• Journal of Intelligence and Information Systems
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.113-127
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• 2016

Among the techniques for recommendation, collaborative filtering (CF) is commonly recognized to be the most effective for implementing recommender systems. Until now, CF has been popularly studied and adopted in both academic and real-world applications. The basic idea of CF is to create recommendation results by finding correlations between users of a recommendation system. CF system compares users based on how similar they are, and recommend products to users by using other like-minded people's results of evaluation for each product. Thus, it is very important to compute evaluation similarities among users in CF because the recommendation quality depends on it. Typical CF uses user's explicit numeric ratings of items (i.e. quantitative information) when computing the similarities among users in CF. In other words, user's numeric ratings have been a sole source of user preference information in traditional CF. However, user ratings are unable to fully reflect user's actual preferences from time to time. According to several studies, users may more actively accommodate recommendation of reliable others when purchasing goods. Thus, trust relationship can be regarded as the informative source for identifying user's preference with accuracy. Under this background, we propose a new hybrid recommender system that fuses CF and social network analysis (SNA). The proposed system adopts the recommendation algorithm that additionally reflect the result analyzed by SNA. In detail, our proposed system is based on conventional memory-based CF, but it is designed to use both user's numeric ratings and trust relationship information between users when calculating user similarities. For this, our system creates and uses not only user-item rating matrix, but also user-to-user trust network. As the methods for calculating user similarity between users, we proposed two alternatives - one is algorithm calculating the degree of similarity between users by utilizing in-degree and out-degree centrality, which are the indices representing the central location in the social network. We named these approaches as 'Trust CF - All' and 'Trust CF - Conditional'. The other alternative is the algorithm reflecting a neighbor's score higher when a target user trusts the neighbor directly or indirectly. The direct or indirect trust relationship can be identified by searching trust network of users. In this study, we call this approach 'Trust CF - Search'. To validate the applicability of the proposed system, we used experimental data provided by LibRec that crawled from the entire FilmTrust website. It consists of ratings of movies and trust relationship network indicating who to trust between users. The experimental system was implemented using Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) and UCINET 6. To examine the effectiveness of the proposed system, we compared the performance of our proposed method with one of conventional CF system. The performances of recommender system were evaluated by using average MAE (mean absolute error). The analysis results confirmed that in case of applying without conditions the in-degree centrality index of trusted network of users(i.e. Trust CF - All), the accuracy (MAE = 0.565134) was lower than conventional CF (MAE = 0.564966). And, in case of applying the in-degree centrality index only to the users with the out-degree centrality above a certain threshold value(i.e. Trust CF - Conditional), the proposed system improved the accuracy a little (MAE = 0.564909) compared to traditional CF. However, the algorithm searching based on the trusted network of users (i.e. Trust CF - Search) was found to show the best performance (MAE = 0.564846). And the result from paired samples t-test presented that Trust CF - Search outperformed conventional CF with 10% statistical significance level. Our study sheds a light on the application of user's trust relationship network information for facilitating electronic commerce by recommending proper items to users.

• Journal of Intelligence and Information Systems
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.19-38
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• 2017

Collaborative filtering (CF) algorithm has been popularly used for implementing recommender systems. Until now, there have been many prior studies to improve the accuracy of CF. Among them, some recent studies adopt 'hybrid recommendation approach', which enhances the performance of conventional CF by using additional information. In this research, we propose a new hybrid recommender system which fuses CF and the results from the social network analysis on trust and distrust relationship networks among users to enhance prediction accuracy. The proposed algorithm of our study is based on memory-based CF. But, when calculating the similarity between users in CF, our proposed algorithm considers not only the correlation of the users' numeric rating patterns, but also the users' in-degree centrality values derived from trust and distrust relationship networks. In specific, it is designed to amplify the similarity between a target user and his or her neighbor when the neighbor has higher in-degree centrality in the trust relationship network. Also, it attenuates the similarity between a target user and his or her neighbor when the neighbor has higher in-degree centrality in the distrust relationship network. Our proposed algorithm considers four (4) types of user relationships - direct trust, indirect trust, direct distrust, and indirect distrust - in total. And, it uses four adjusting coefficients, which adjusts the level of amplification / attenuation for in-degree centrality values derived from direct / indirect trust and distrust relationship networks. To determine optimal adjusting coefficients, genetic algorithms (GA) has been adopted. Under this background, we named our proposed algorithm as SNACF-GA (Social Network Analysis - based CF using GA). To validate the performance of the SNACF-GA, we used a real-world data set which is called 'Extended Epinions dataset' provided by 'trustlet.org'. It is the data set contains user responses (rating scores and reviews) after purchasing specific items (e.g. car, movie, music, book) as well as trust / distrust relationship information indicating whom to trust or distrust between users. The experimental system was basically developed using Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications (VBA), but we also used UCINET 6 for calculating the in-degree centrality of trust / distrust relationship networks. In addition, we used Palisade Software's Evolver, which is a commercial software implements genetic algorithm. To examine the effectiveness of our proposed system more precisely, we adopted two comparison models. The first comparison model is conventional CF. It only uses users' explicit numeric ratings when calculating the similarities between users. That is, it does not consider trust / distrust relationship between users at all. The second comparison model is SNACF (Social Network Analysis - based CF). SNACF differs from the proposed algorithm SNACF-GA in that it considers only direct trust / distrust relationships. It also does not use GA optimization. The performances of the proposed algorithm and comparison models were evaluated by using average MAE (mean absolute error). Experimental result showed that the optimal adjusting coefficients for direct trust, indirect trust, direct distrust, indirect distrust were 0, 1.4287, 1.5, 0.4615 each. This implies that distrust relationships between users are more important than trust ones in recommender systems. From the perspective of recommendation accuracy, SNACF-GA (Avg. MAE = 0.111943), the proposed algorithm which reflects both direct and indirect trust / distrust relationships information, was found to greatly outperform a conventional CF (Avg. MAE = 0.112638). Also, the algorithm showed better recommendation accuracy than the SNACF (Avg. MAE = 0.112209). To confirm whether these differences are statistically significant or not, we applied paired samples t-test. The results from the paired samples t-test presented that the difference between SNACF-GA and conventional CF was statistical significant at the 1% significance level, and the difference between SNACF-GA and SNACF was statistical significant at the 5%. Our study found that the trust/distrust relationship can be important information for improving performance of recommendation algorithms. Especially, distrust relationship information was found to have a greater impact on the performance improvement of CF. This implies that we need to have more attention on distrust (negative) relationships rather than trust (positive) ones when tracking and managing social relationships between users.

• Journal of the Korea Society of Computer and Information
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.249-256
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• 2011

Finding a new set of features representing textured images is one of the most important studies in textured image analysis. This is because it is impossible to construct a perfect set of features representing every textured image, and it is inevitable to choose some relevant features which are efficient to on-going image processing jobs. This paper intends to find relevant features which are efficient to textured image segmentation. In this regards, this paper presents a different method for the segmentation of textured images based on the Gabor filter. Gabor filter is known to be a very efficient and effective tool which represents human visual system for texture analysis. Filtering a real-valued input image by the Gabor filter results in complex-valued output data defined in the spatial frequency domain. This complex value, as usual, gives the module and the phase. This paper focused its attention on the phase information, rather than the module information. In fact, the module information is considered very useful at region analysis in texture, while the phase information was considered almost of no use. But this paper shows that the phase information can also be fully useful and effective at region analysis in texture, once a good method introduced. We now propose "phase derivated method", which is an efficient and effective way to compute the useful phase information directly from the filtered value. This new method reduces effectively computing burden and widen applicable textured images.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.737-744
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• 2013

The present study was investigated to evaluate on the health improving effect of Kochujang (Fermented Korean hot pepper paste), which was famous as Korean traditional healthy food among foreigners as it was served together with Bibimbap. For comparison, observation was made on the experimental animals (Sprague-Dawley rat) as breeding during 5 weeks, which were divided three groups as into the control groups (N-group) fed with normal feed only and high cholesterol feed only (H-group) and the K-group with combined diet of normal feed and Kochujang extracts (Water soluble complex materials). The most outstanding result was found as the definite fatty liver lesions found from all (100%) of the rats of the H-group at the abdominal opening examination. On the other hand, there was any finding on fatty liver lesions in the N-group as well as the K-group. Therefore, it was more than enough to identify the hypolipidemic effect by visual finding only. Furthermore, from the results of blood plasma analysis from SD-rats fed with Kochujang extract (K-group), more prominent differential findings were found, the value of HDL-cholesterol, which was good for preventing the arteriosclerosis, was more or less higher than that of H-groups. But the level of LDL-cholesterol, which was one of the hazardous agents of hyperlipidemia and arteriosclerosis, was more significantly reduced to the level even lower than that of N-group, based on the statistical analysis, in especial. According to the present results, we could find that the unidentified Korean traditional Kochujang-derived complex components had expressed both the positive health improving effects and hypolipidemic effects on the SD-rat.

• Journal of Korea Entertainment Industry Association
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.181-192
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• 2019

The purpose of this study is to look at the fun that high school students from blind schools feel in sports programs. A questionnaire was used to collect data from 10 out of 12 blind schools nationwide, including 122 male and 102 female students. Research tools are open questionnaires and questions are as follows. - Questionnaire: "Write down three of the most interesting things about sports programs." The data analysis was done with frequency analysis and the following conclusions were drawn. First, male high school students at blind schools are able to build up their physical strength in the area of competent factors (control-self) (23, 21.5%), in the area of competent factors (7, 77.8%) and in the area of motion-related factors (competition) (24, 15.1%), and in the area of non-execution factors (26, 37.7%), Second, high school girls with visual impairments did not respond in the areas of proficiency (control-self) because of stress release (25, 26.6%), in the areas of control-tain), in the areas of movement (competition) because they were able to do various exercises (22, 15.7%), and in the areas of non-watering (environmental) (18, 37.5%). Third, in the sports program comparative analysis of high school students between genders of blind schools, boys are interested in health and physical fitness in the field of competent factors (control-self) and girls are considered to be a means of relieving stress. In the field of competent factors (control-others), boys and girls can react to a variety of sports opportunities. In the future, by studying the fun of students in the physical education program through research to find out more fun in the school physical education program, we will explore practical ways to maximize student participation and increase motivation level The educational aspect of the process, that is, the educational value provided by the physical education, should be composed of content that can change the thinking and behavior of the teacher and the student so that the program contents and operation method.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.131-138
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• 2009

The radioprotect effects of fractinated fucoidan, derived from Undaria pinnatifida sporophylls, were examined in lung injured rats treated with partial body irradiation. The right lung of Sprague-Dawley rats, eight separately grouped by including radiation only control group (ROG) and fucoidan+radiation treated group (FRG), were treated with various fraction of Undaria-derived fucoidan every other day by intraperitoneal injection 6 days prior to irradiation and during monitoring at 24 hours, 48 hours, 2 weeks, 4 weeks and 12-weeks post-irradiation of 6 Mev/2 Gy. The rats were euthanized at completion of the treatment. Tissue samples from the injured lung, fixed in formaldehyde using lung perfusion prior to extraction, were H/E stained for histological analysis using optical microscopy. Interstitial congestion (IC), hemorrhage in alveolar sac (HM), number of macrophage (MP) and alveolar wall thickness (AWT) as a measure of early indication of fibrosis were measured. AWTs in 24 hrs post-irradiation rats increased in comparison with $2.49{\pm}0.06{\mu}m$ of control group by $3.67{\pm}0.09{\mu}m$, $3.21{\pm}0.08{\mu}m$ (p=0.013), $2.98{\pm}0.08{\mu}m$ (p=0.00) in ROG, F1-fucoidan+radiation, and F3-fucoidan+radiation group, respectively. AWT of the ROG was further increased by $4.30{\pm}0.13{\mu}m$ in the 12 weeks post-irradiation group, but AWT on average was $2.56{\pm}0.05{\mu}m$ in the FRG. MP in the 24 hrs post-irradiation group markedly increased in comparison with $2.6{\pm}0.34/0.14\;mm^2$ of the control group by $8.0{\pm}1.48/0.14\;mm^2$ in the ROG, but it was only $3.6{\pm}0.48/0.14\;mm^2$ in F3-FRG. MP in the 12 weeks post-irradiation group was $7.2{\pm}1.28/0.14\;mm^2$ in ROG, but it was $2.8{\pm}0.37/0.14\;mm^2$ or $2.4{\pm}0.4/0.14\;mm^2$ (p<0.05) in the FRG. In addition, increased IC and HM in ROG were relatively smaller in FRG of the 24 hr and 12 weeks post-irradiation rats. In conclusion, Undaria pinnatifida sporophylls-derived fucoidan fractions exhibited radioprotectant activity on injured rat lung subjected to X-ray irradiation. However, success was variable according to the fractions and also time of injection post injury.

• Science of Emotion and Sensibility
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.351-356
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• 2009

The study is about how the difference in education levels can affect the subjects' use of color and find out the features of the effect. This experimental study focused on the differences in color expression using the outline picture of a painting before and after being exposed to a full-color picture of the original painting. Differences between two conditions with two different stimuli were observed and the cause of the differences was analyzed based on the number of colors and the quantity of colors and composition of the colors used by the subjects. The study precedes an experiment based on how the level of education though experience can affect the use of colors. This study is focused on the various effects of color usage by children and adults who have various degrees of visual experience. In addition, the study analyzes how design majored subject differed in the use of color from non-design majored subject and compares the use of colors by the two groups. The results showed that design majored subject tended to use less coloring patterns after seeing the stimulus of the Monet picture with more colors, and included the colors from the stimuli they were exposed to. The non-design majored subject who viewed the Mondrian painting demonstrated opposite results by using less number of colors than before seeing the stimuli. In comparison to design majored subject, the variations in selected colors and the quantity of color by non-design majored subject were not consistent.

• Journal of Korean Ophthalmic Optics Society
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.41-46
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• 2009

Purpose: Stereopsis is one of primary characteristics for assessment of binocular function. The purpose of this study was to determine the possible relationship between the degree of exophoria and stereoacuity at near. Methods: 110 exophores (male n=71, female n=39, mean $age{\pm}SD=11.30{\pm}1.47$ years) without amblyopia, strabismus, and ocular and systemic pathology were studied. Subjects were also excluded if they had visual acuity poorer than 0.8 in either eye or vertical phoria greater than 1 prism diopter. Clinical tests were performed for near phorias by von Graefe technique using a Digital Refractor (CDR-3100, Huvitz, Korea) with chart (Predio CDC-4000, Huvitz, Korea), and for stereoacuity using the Titmus fly. Results: A one-way analysis of variance revealed that mean values of the stereoacuity classified according to the degrees of the exophoria were not significantly different (p>0.05). Conclusions: Based on the result of this study, it was found that there was no relationship between the degree of exophoria and stereoacuity.

• Journal of Korean Ophthalmic Optics Society
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.1-11
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• 2002

A mathematical model is proposed to analyze the force; acting on the hard contact lens fitted on the cornea. The model incorporates the nonlinear equations and their numerical solution program, based on the formulations of surface tension force arising from the capillary action in the tear-film layer between the lens and cornea. The model simulates how the adhesion between lens and cornea varies according to the base curves and diameters of the lenses. When the spherical lens is fitted on the spherical cornea it is to rotate downward due to the weight of lens itself until it reaches an equilibrium position along the cornea where the counter(upward) moment caused by net force between the upper and lower portion of the periphery of lens. It is found that both the adhesion and displacement of lens along the cornea, where the gravity of lens balances the capillary-induced upward force, increases rapidly as the base curve of lens increases, i.e., as the lens gets flatter, while the increase in the diameter of lenses has resulted in the less increase in the rotation and adhesion. With the base curve and diameters of lenses being remained constant the increase in surface tension of tear film yields the increase in the adhesion between the cornea and lens while the initial rotation of lens is inversely proportional to the surface tension of the tear film.

• Journal of Korean Ophthalmic Optics Society
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.61-65
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• 2002

This study examines how the average presbyopic additions and eye refraction state of old ages in city may be different to that island. There were 677 of the old who were 50 or over 90 in the sample. The visual acuity test was done by objective and subjective methods and used for near-chart program. The far-point refraction state and power of the additions lens results were as follows ; 1. Of far-point refraction state in city peoples; male: emmetropia 10%, myopia 17%, hyperopia 19%, mixed astigmatism 38%, etc. 16% female : emmetropia 20%, myopia 20%, hyperopia 20%, mixed astigmatism 27%, etc. 13% 2. Of far-point refraction state in island villages ; male : emmetropia 13%, myopia 17%, hyperopia 22%, mixed astigmatism 40%, etc. 8% female : emmetropia 7%, myopia 13%, hyperopia 26%, mixed astigmatism 44%, etc. 10% 3. Average presbyopic additions states has been presented no discrimination ; male: 50 to 60 : +1.25 or +1.50D, 61 to 65 : +1.75 or + 2.00D, 66 to 70 : +2.25 or +2.50D 71 to 75 : +2.75 or +3.00D, 76 to 80 : +3.25 or +3.50D, over81 : +3.75D female : 50 to 60 : +1.25 or + 1.50D, 61 to 65 : +1.75 or + 2.00D, 66 to 70 : +2.25 or +2.50D 71 to 75 : +2.25 or + 2.50D, 76 to 80 : +2.75 or +3.00D, over81 : +2.75 or +3.00D 4. Under the condition of wearing lens, the average working time was 1 or 2 hour but some people used over 5 hours. 5. Generally, it has been investigated the old ages peoples has ocular diseases and cataract was the most common.