• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.9
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• pp.4517-4525
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• 2016

Background: Sperm DNA damage is underlying aetiology of poor implantation and pregnancy rates but also affects health of offspring and may also result in denovo mutations in germ line and post fertilization. This may result in complex diseases, polygenic disorders and childhood cancers. Childhood cancer like retinoblastoma (RB) is more prevalent in developing countries and the incidence of RB has increased more than three fold in India in the last decade. Recent studies have documented increased incidence of cancers in children born to fathers who consume alcohol in excess and tobacco or who were conceived by assisted conception. The aetiology of childhood cancer and increased disease burden in these children is lin ked to oxidative stress (OS) and oxidative DNA damage( ODD) in sperm of their fathers. Though several antioxidants are in use to combat oxidative stress, the effect of majority of these formulations on DNA is not known. Yoga and meditation cause significant decline in OS and ODD and aid in regulating OS levels such that reactive oxygen speues meditated signal transduction, gene expression and several other physiological functions are not disrupted. Thus, this study aimed to analyze sperm ODD as a possible etiological factor in childhood cancer and role of simple life style interventions like yoga and meditation in significantly decreasing seminal oxidative stress and oxidative DNA damage and thereby decreasing incidence of childhood cancers. Materials and Methods: A total of 131 fathers of children with RB (non-familial sporadic heritable) and 50 controls (fathers of healthy children) were recruited at a tertiary center in India. Sperm parameters as per WHO 2010 guidelines and reactive oxygen species (ROS), DNA fragmentation index (DFI), 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxy guanosine (8-OHdG) and telomere length were estimated at day 0, and after 3 and 6 months of intervention. We also examined the compliance with yoga and meditation practice and smoking status at each follow-up. Results: The seminal mean ROS levels (p<0.05), sperm DFI (p<0.001), 8-OHdG (p<0.01) levels were significantly higher in fathers of children with RB, as compared to controls and the relative mean telomere length in the sperm was shorter. Levels of ROS were significantly reduced in tobacco users (p<0.05) as well as in alcoholics (p<0.05) after intervention. DFI reduced significantly (p<0.05) after 6 months of yoga and meditation practice in all groups. The levels of oxidative DNA damage marker 8-OHdG were reduced significantly after 3 months (p<0.05) and 6 months (p<0.05) of practice. Conclusions: Our results suggest that OS and ODD DNA may contribute to the development of childhood cancer. This may be due to accumulation of oxidized mutagenic base 8OHdG, and elevated MDA levels which results in MDA dimers which are also mutagenic, aberrant methylation pattern, altered gene expression which affect cell proliferation and survival through activation of transcription factors. Increased mt DNA mutations and aberrant repair of mt and nuclear DNA due to highly truncatred DNA repair mechanisms all contribute to sperm genome hypermutability and persistant oxidative DNA damage. Oxidative stress is also associated with genome wide hypomethylation, telomere shortening and mitochondrial dysfunction leading to genome hypermutability and instability. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to report decline in OS and ODD and improvement in sperm DNA integrity following adoption of meditation and yoga based life style modification.This may reduce disease burden in next generation and reduce incidence of childhood cancers.

• Journal of the Korean Arthroscopy Society
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.83-91
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• 2011

Purpose: Microfracture has been used as a first-line treatment to repair articular cartilage defects. In this study, a new technique using an extracelluar matrix biomembrane to cover the cartilage lesions after microfracture was evaluated in terms of cartilage repairability and clinical outcome compared with conventional microfracture technique in a prospective randomized trial. Materials and Methods: A total of 53 patients (59 cases) without osteoarthritis who had focal full thickness articular cartilage lesions were randomly assigned in two group. Seventeen patients (17 cases) underwent conventional microfracture procedure (control group) and thirty-six patients (42 cases) received microfracture and placing biomembrane cover (ArtiFilm$^{TM}$) concomitantly (experimental group). Clinical assessment was done through 6 months postoperatively using the subjective International Knee Documentation Committee IKDC questionnaire, and visual analog scale (VAS) for pain and satisfaction. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed at 6 months after the operation in all patients. Results: In clinical outcomes, the significant difference was observed between both groups in IKDC, but not in VAS for pain and for satisfaction (final outcomes of IKDC, p=0.001; VAS for pain, p=0.074; VAS for satisfaction, p=0.194). The MRI showed good to complete defect fill (67 to 100%) in 33 patients (78.6%) of experimental group and 4 patients (23.5%) of control group, respectively. In control group, 9 of 17 patients (52.9%) showed poor defect fill (less than 33%), whereas 5 (11.9%) in experimental group (p=0.001). Assessment of peripheral integration revealed no gap formation in 35 patients (83.3%) in experimental group and 6 patients (35.3%) in control group (p=0.001). No serious complications or adverse effects related to the biomembrane were found. Conclusion: Good short-term follow-up clinical results were obtained in the group whose cartilage defects in the knee joint were covered with biomembrane after the microfracture, with the MRI findings confirming the excellent regeneration of the defective cartilage area. This suggests that the surgery to cover the defective area with biomembrane (ArtiFilm$^{TM}$) after the microfracture procedure is a safe, more effective treatment to induce cartilage regeneration.

• The Journal of Society for e-Business Studies
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.15-27
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• 2020

This study starts with the idea that the process of creating a Gantt Chart for schedule planning is similar to Tetris game with only a straight line. In Tetris games, the X axis is M machines and the Y axis is time. It is assumed that all types of orders can be worked without separation in all machines, but if the types of orders are different, setup cost will be incurred without delay. In this study, the game described above was named Gantris and the game environment was implemented. The AI-scheduling table through in-depth reinforcement learning compares the real-time scheduling table with the human-made game schedule. In the comparative study, the learning environment was studied in single order list learning environment and random order list learning environment. The two systems to be compared in this study are four machines (Machine)-two types of system (4M2T) and ten machines-six types of system (10M6T). As a performance indicator of the generated schedule, a weighted sum of setup cost, makespan and idle time in processing 100 orders were scheduled. As a result of the comparative study, in 4M2T system, regardless of the learning environment, the learned system generated schedule plan with better performance index than the experimenter. In the case of 10M6T system, the AI system generated a schedule of better performance indicators than the experimenter in a single learning environment, but showed a bad performance index than the experimenter in random learning environment. However, in comparing the number of job changes, the learning system showed better results than those of the 4M2T and 10M6T, showing excellent scheduling performance.

• Korea journal of population studies
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.31-57
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• 2003

This study is intended to examine (l)whether the value of son-for example, old age security and succession of family lineage- causing son preference in the traditional society can be explained at the individual level, (2)whether women without son in the son preference country continue her childbearing until having at least one son or give up the desire of having a son at a certain level. To accomplish these purposes, the 1974 Korean National Fertility Survey data are analyzed by the quadratic hazard models controlling unobserved heterogeneity. Unlike ordinary regression model, even omitted variables that affect hazard rates and are uncorrelated with the included independent variables can distort the parameter estimates in the hazard model. Therefore the nonparametric maximum likelihood estimator(NPMLE) of a mixing distribution developed by Heckman and Singer is used to control unobserved heterogeneity. Based on the statistical result in this study, the value of son causing son preference is determined at the societal level, not at the individual level. And Korean women without a son did not continue endlessly childbearing during child bearing ages until having a son. In general, they gave up the desire having a son when she had born six daughters continuously. Thus, 30-40 years ago, the number of daughters that women without a son giving up the desire of son was six, which is about the level of total fertility rate during 1960s. In these days, we can often see many women who have only two or three daughters and do not any son. This means that the level of giving up the desire of son, which is one factor representing the strength of son preference, becomes lower. If the strength of son preference did not become much weaker, then the fertility rates in Korea could not reach the below replacement level.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.50 no.spc1
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• pp.161-166
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• 2005

Objectives of this study were to select inbred lines which have a good eating quality and desirable segregates during inbreeding of waxy corn. The 64 inbred lines showed a large variance in their kernel shape and weight. 100-kernel weight, pericarp thickness, kernel length, kernel width, and kernel thickness ranged $11.7\~37.3g,\;11\~77{\mu}m,\;5.8\~9.6mm,\;6.5\~10.0mm$, and $4.1\~6.8mm$, respectively. The physicochemical analysis of 64 waxy corn inbred lines showed crude protein, crude fat, free sugar, and amylopectin content ranging $8.7\~15.8\%,\;2.3\~5.8\%,\;1.1\~11.0\%,\;and\;78.5\~93.8\%$, respectively. The texture property analysis of 64 inbred lines by texture analyzer showed a big difference. Gumminess, hardness, and chewiness of 64 inbred lines ranged $91\~383,\;181\~394,\;and\;73\~370$, respectively. The principal component analysis for 14 characteristics related to kernel quality showed that $73.1\%$ of the total variation could be attributed to the first five principal components. Biological meaning of the principal component was explained clearly by the correlation coefficient between principal components and characters. The first principal component appeared to correspond to small kernel and bad eating quality, The second principal component appeared to correspond to large kernel and good eating quality. The 64 inbred lines were classified into 8 groups by the cluster analysis using the first and second principal component. Among the groups, group VII and VIII included inbred lines with good eating quality that had thin pericarp thickness, low protein content, large kernel, and soft tenderness.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.40 no.6
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• pp.684-696
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• 1995

A mutant for chalky endosperm and genetic male sterility (GMS) was newly developed in rice. The two characters were found to be controlled by single recessive gene which has pleiotropic effect, indicating that chalky seeds should be GMS seeds in segregating populations. Chalky seeds showed the same shape and size as normal seeds. However, starch composition of central part of endosperm was looser and shape of starch granules was rounder compared with normal endosperm, resulting in significantly lower grain weight, absolute density and grain hardness in chalky grains than in normal ones. Amylose content and gel consistency of chalky grains were much lower and harder, respectively. Male sterile plants showed much shorter plant height, poorer panicle exsertion and lesser panicle number compared with normal plants. Microspore abortion stage in pollen developmental process was observed as before meiosis. Male sterility of the mutant was stable regadless of temperature and day length. A system breeding hybrid rice using this mutant was discussed, comp ring with other systems utilizing cytoplasmic-genic male sterility(CGMS) and environment sensitive GMS(EGMS). Separation of GMS seeds in mixed seed bulks by specific gravity (1.14∼1.16g / cm3) was successful about 85∼90%. But some mixed normal plants were seemed to be easily removed by the apparent difference in growth characters at seedling stage. The highest natural outcrossing rate of this GMS line was as 17.3 % in a plot treated with 2-row pollinator, I-row GMS, and GA3 + cutting of flag leaf + pollen-scattering by rope.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.366-374
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• 1986

Taiwan land race, Taichung 2 rowed barley #1 was crossed with England cultivar, Deba abed in 1972, and two isogenic lines-lax and compact heads-were made in 1982. So as to three fertilizer and three seeding density levels were treated at Dan-Kook Agricultural College farm located in Cheonan in 1984-1985. Lax head type had longer spike length and rachis than compact type. The traits uninfluenced by different head types were heading time, number of grains per spike, yield and soluble nitrogen content. However, the traits related to malting quality such as 1,000 grain weight, assortment ratio, protein content of grain and malt, malt extract, malt total nitrogen content, Kolbach index and diastatic power were significantly affected by head types. The number of spikes per m2, yield, assortment ratio, crude protein content of grain and malt yield ratio, extract yield ratio, malt total nitrogen, souble nitrogen content, Kolbach index and diastatic power were affected by fertilizer and seeding density levels in both isogenic lines. The malting quality was best at 12-12-9 kg/l0a fertilizer level and the yield was greatest at 15-12-9 kg/l0a level. Narrow-spaced or drilling seeding had greater yield and better malting quality than conventional row seeding. The plant with lax head type had some advantages in malting quality, suggesting that this trait would be considered as an selection criterion fer good malting quality lines.

• Korean Security Journal
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• no.14
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• pp.517-534
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• 2007

Since the beginning of human society, there have always been struggles and competitions for survival and prosperity, terrorism is not a recent phenomenon, however in modern times it has progressed to reflect the advances in civilization and power structures. At the time of the 9.11 terrorist attacks in the U.S. A., a new world order was in the process of being established after the breakdown of the Cold War era. The attacks drove both the Western and the Islamic worlds into heightened fear of terrorism and war, which threatened the quality of life of the whole mankind. Through two war campaigns against the Islamic world, it seems the U.S. has been pushing its own militaristic security road map of the Greater Middle East democratic initiative, justifying it as a means to retaliate and eradicate the terrorist threats towards themselves. However, with its five-year lopsided victories that cost the nation almost four thousand military casualties, and the war expenses that could match the Vietnam war, the U.S. does not yet seem to be totally emancipated from the fears of terrorism. Terrorism, in itself, is a means of resisting forced rules a form of alternative competition by the weak against the strong, and a way of expressing a dismissive response against dictatorial ideas or orders which allow for no normal changes. Intrinsically, the nature of terrorism is a reaction opposing power logics. Confronted with the absolute military power of the U.S., the Islamic strategies of terrorism have begun to rapidly evolve into a new stage. The new strategies take advantage of their civilization and circumstances, they train and inspire their front-line fighters on the Internet, and issue their orders through the clandestine network of the Al Qaeda operatives. These spontaneously generated strategies have been gained speed among the second, and third Islamic generations, many of whom are now spread throughout western societies. This represents a failure of the power-driven, one-sided overseas security initiatives by the U.S., and is creating a culture of fear and distrust in western societies. It is feared that the U.S. war campaigns have made the clash of religions far worse than before, and may ever lead to global ethnic separations and large-scale population movements. Eventually, it may result in the terrorist groups, enlarged and secretly supported by the huge sums of oil money, driving all mankind into a series of irreparable catastrophes.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.40 no.5
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• pp.501-508
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• 1993

Background: Sleep apnea syndrome is a common disorder which is estimated to affect about 1~4% of adult male population. And if untreated, sleep apnea can cause significant sequelae, such as hypertension, nocturnal cardiac arrhythmia, daytime hypersomnolence, and cognitive impairment. Various kinds of treatment for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) have been developed. Among them nasal CPAP, first introduced by Sullivan et al in 1981, has received widespread interest and acclaim as a treatment of OSA, and is currently recommended as first-line treatment for OSA. We evaluated the effect of nasal CPAP in OSA and the side effects of nasal CPAP hindering patients from using nasal CPAP. Methods: We performed sleep studies in 20 OSA patients at 2 consecutive nights; baseline night at first day and CPAP night at second day. We compared apnea index, lowest oxygen concentration during apnea, maximal apnea time, and total apnea duration per total sleep time before and after CPAP. We also evaluated the side effects of CPAP with inquiry to the patients. Results: 1) Apnea index was significantly decreased after CPAP in 17 out of 20 OSA patients (85%) and increased in 3 patients (15%). 2) Average apnea index was significantly decreased after CPAP ($34.1{\pm}18.9/h{\rightarrow}15.4{\pm}10.3/h$, p<0.01). 3) Total apnea duration per total sleep time was also significantly decreased after CPAP ($28.5{\pm}16.0%{\rightarrow}11.9{\pm}9.3%$, p<0.05). 4) The lowest oxygen satuation and maximal apnea time were not significantly changed after CPAP. 5) The most frequent side effect of nasal CPAP was mask discomfort (80%), and the next was drying of nasal passages (65%). Conclusion: Nasal CPAP is an effective treatment for OSA. Futher studies should be concentrated on long term follow up of nasal CPAP for its therapeutic effects and the study of methods to enhance patients' compliance.

• Journal of Technologic Dentistry
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.151-161
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• 2007

To obtain the information of dental arch size and the distance from one tooth center to adjacent tooth center of occlusal surface of each tooth which is perforated by Pindex system on working cast for removable die system, 600 dental casts in Busan were examined. The distance of center of occlusal surface of each tooth and dental arch size were digitized. The results were as follows; 1. Mean values of the distance from center of maxillary central incisor to maxillary lateral incisor(tooth number 11$\sim$12, 21$\sim$22) is 5,7 mm, 12$\sim$13(22$\sim$23) is 5.9 mm, 13$\sim$14(23$\sim$24) is 6.9 mm, 14$\sim$15(24$\sim$25) is 7.1 mm, 15$\sim$16(25$\sim$26) is 8.4 mm, 16$\sim$17(26$\sim$27) is 10.2 mm, 11$\sim$21 is 7.30 mm. Mean values of the distance from center of mandibular central incisor to mandibular lateral incisor(tooth number 31$\sim$32, 41$\sim$42) is 4.5 mm, 32$\sim$33(42$\sim$43) is 4.8 mm, 33$\sim$34(43$\sim$44) is 6.3 mm, 34$\sim$35(44$\sim$45) is 7.2 mm, 35$\sim$36(45$\sim$46) is 9.2 mm, 36$\sim$37(46$\sim$47) is 10.7 mm, 31$\sim$41 is 4.7 mm. 2. Mean values of the distance from the center of maxillary right central incisor to the center of maxillary left central incisor(11$\sim$21) is 7.3 mm, 12$\sim$22 is 18.2 mm, 13$\sim$23 is 26.9 mm, 14$\sim$24 is 37.2 mm, 15$\sim$25 is 43.2 mm, 16$\sim$26 is 48.5 mm, 17$\sim$27 is 53.5 mm. Mean values of the distance from the center of mandibular right central incisor to the center of mandibular left central incisor(31$\sim$41) is 4.7 mm, 32$\sim$42 is 13.3 mm, 33$\sim$43 is 21.7 mm, 34$\sim$44 is 31.9 mm, 35$\sim$45 is 38.2 mm, 36$\sim$46 is 44.8 mm, 37$\sim$47 is 50.7 mm. 3. Mean values of the distance from the line of between 11$\sim$21 to 12$\sim$22 is 10.9 mm, 12$\sim$22 to 13$\sim$23 is 8.7 mm, 13$\sim$23 to 14$\sim$24 is 10.3 mm, 14$\sim$24 to 15$\sim$25 is 6.0 mm, 15$\sim$25 to 16$\sim$26 is 5.3 mm, 16$\sim$26 to 17$\sim$27 is 5.0 mm. 31$\sim$41 to 32$\sim$42 is 8.6 mm, 32$\sim$42 to 33$\sim$43 is 8.4 mm, 33$\sim$43 to 34$\sim$44 is 10.2 mm, 34$\sim$44 to 35$\sim$45 is 6.3 mm, 35$\sim$45 to 36$\sim$46 is 6.6 mm, 36$\sim$46 to 37$\sim$47 is 5.9 mm. 4. We checked the bottom side of cast to verify the position of dowel pin. There is no difference upper side and lower side.