• Animal cells and systems
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.329-336
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• 2012

This study evaluated ecological health, using various biomarkers and bioindicators, of pale chub (Zacco platypus) as a sentinel species, in Daejeon Stream, South Korea, during AprilMay 2011. The biomarkers and bioindicators were compared among three sites of control: Reference ($C_z$), transition ($T_z$), and the urban zones ($U_z$); and the 7-Ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase (EROD) activity, DNA damage, acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity, and vitellogenin (VTG) concentrations were more significantly increased in the $U_z$ than in the $C_z$. Also, physiological markers such as condition factor, liver somatic index, visceral somatic index, and gonad somatic index were significantly increased in the $U_z$ than in the $C_z$. For the health assessments, three categorized parameters of blood chemistry, molecular biomarkers, and physiological bioindicators were standardized and calculated as a star-plot, representing values of Integrated Health Response (IHR). Values of IHR had more significant (P<0.05) increases in the $U_z$ than any other zones, indicating an impairment of ecological health by organic matter, nutrients (N, P), and toxic chemicals. This study is based on low levels of biological organization approach of molecular and physiological biomarkers and bioindicators, so further study of high-levels of biological organization approach such as community and population is required for overall range of health assessments. The approach of IHR values, however, may be useful in providing early warning of future impacts on ecological health.

• Journal of Astronomy and Space Sciences
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.123-132
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• 2011

It is generally believed that the occurrence of a magnetic storm depends upon the solar wind conditions, particularly the southward interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) component. To understand the relationship between solar wind parameters and magnetic storms, variations in magnetic field polarity and solar wind parameters during magnetic storms are examined. A total of 156 storms during the period of 1997~2003 are used. According to the interplanetary driver, magnetic storms are divided into three types, which are coronal mass ejection (CME)-driven storms, co-rotating interaction region (CIR)-driven storms, and complicated type storms. Complicated types were not included in this study. For this purpose, the manner in which the direction change of IMF $B_y$ and $B_z$ components (in geocentric solar magnetospheric coordinate system coordinate) during the main phase is related with the development of the storm is examined. The time-integrated solar wind parameters are compared with the time-integrated disturbance storm time (Dst) index during the main phase of each magnetic storm. The time lag with the storm size is also investigated. Some results are worth noting: CME-driven storms, under steady conditions of $B_z$ < 0, represent more than half of the storms in number. That is, it is found that the average number of storms for negative sign of IMF $B_z$ (T1~T4) is high, at 56.4%, 53.0%, and 63.7% in each storm category, respectively. However, for the CIR-driven storms, the percentage of moderate storms is only 29.2%, while the number of intense storms is more than half (60.0%) under the $B_z$ < 0 condition. It is found that the correlation is highest between the time-integrated IMF $B_z$ and the time-integrated Dst index for the CME-driven storms. On the other hand, for the CIR-driven storms, a high correlation is found, with the correlation coefficient being 0.93, between time-integrated Dst index and time-integrated solar wind speed, while a low correlation, 0.51, is found between timeintegrated $B_z$ and time-integrated Dst index. The relationship between storm size and time lag in terms of hours from $B_z$ minimum to Dst minimum values is investigated. For the CME-driven storms, time lag of 26% of moderate storms is one hour, whereas time lag of 33% of moderate storms is two hours for the CIR-driven storms. The average values of solar wind parameters for the CME and CIR-driven storms are also examined. The average values of ${\mid}Dst_{min}{\mid}$ and ${\mid}B_{zmin}{\mid}$ for the CME-driven storms are higher than those of CIR-driven storms, while the average value of temperature is lower.

• Proceedings of the KIPE Conference
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• 2006.06a
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• pp.545-548
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• 2006

This paper presents control method of a Z-source inverter and their relationships of voltage boost versus modulation index. A maximum boost control is presented to produce the maximum voltage boost(or voltage gain)under a given modulation index. The control method, relationships of voltage gain versus modulation index, and voltage stress versus voltage gain are analyzed in detail and verified by experiment.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.39 no.6
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• pp.735-742
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• 2019

Drought is a social phenomenon in which the degree of perception varies depending on the affected factors, and is defined as various relative concepts such as meteorological drought, hydrological drought, agricultural drought, and climatological drought. In this study, a comparative analysis of meteorological drought among variously defined droughts was conducted and the applicability of the drought index was examined by comparing the actual drought cases and the results of meteorological drought index analysis. In order to compare the drought index, we used standardized Precipitation Index (SPI), China-Z Index (CZI), Modified CZI (MCZI) and Z-Score Index Respectively. Four drought indices were used for the Taebaek and Sokcho areas. The drought index was analyzed using the meteorological data from 1986 to 2015 for a duration of 3 months. As a result of the analysis, the SPI drought index was analyzed to be highly reproducible for the case of drought with past limited water series. In the case of CZI and MCZI drought indices, the number of extreme dry occurrences is similar to that of the past cases, but the reproducibility is low for the actual drought years. In the case of ZSI drought index, it is analyzed that the number of occurrences and the comparison with the past cases are inferior in reproducibility. For the meteorological drought index using precipitation, it would be effective to use the SPI drought index with the highest reproducibility and the past drought case.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.555-563
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• 2021

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the pancreatic fat fraction (PFF) using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in children with and without obesity and to correlate PFF with body mass index (BMI) z-score, hepatic fat fraction (HFF), and ultrasonography-derived pancreato-perihepatic fat index (PPHFI). Methods: This prospective study included 45 children with obesity and 19 without obesity (control group). PFF and HFF were quantitatively assessed using the abdominal multi-echo Dixon method for MRI. The PPHFI was assessed using transabdominal ultrasonography. Anthropometric, MRI, and ultrasonographic characteristics were compared between the two groups. Correlations between PFF, HFF, PPHFI, and BMI z-scores in each group were also analyzed. Results: The PFF, HFF, PPHFI, and BMI z-score were higher in the group with obesity than in the control group (PFF: 6.65±3.42 vs. 1.78±0.55, HFF: 19.5±13.0 vs. 2.31±1, PPHFI: 3.65 ±1.63 vs. 0.94±0.31, BMI z-score: 2.27±0.56 vs. 0.42±0.54, p<0.01, respectively). PFF was correlated with BMI z-scores, PPHFI, and HFF in the obesity group, and multivariate analysis showed that PFF was strongly correlated with BMI z-score and PPHFI (p<0.05). The BMI z-score was strongly correlated with PFF in the control group (p<0.01). Conclusion: These results suggest that MRI-derived PFF measures are associated with childhood obesity. PFF and PPHFI were also highly correlated in the obesity group. Therefore, PFF may be an objective index of pancreatic fat content and has the potential for clinical utility as a non-invasive biomarker for the assessment of childhood obesity.

• Proceedings of the KIPE Conference
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• 2013.11a
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• pp.254-255
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• 2013

In this paper, four switches three-phase Z-source dynamic harmonic filter is proposed. It has many advantages, such as reduction of the cost, switching loss and smaller drive circuit. In order to reduction harmonics, new PWM modulation technique with a variable index has been suggested that in comparison with a fixed index type has more capability. The paper presents an application of direct current control(DCC) method in Z-source dynamic harmonic filter to reduce the harmonics generated by the non-linear load. The experimental results will verify the validity of the proposed method.

• Journal of the Korea Safety Management & Science
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.131-136
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• 2009

The research develops the calculation steps of Z sigma level, process capability index(PCI) and process performance index(PPI) applicable to the discrete process in the service industry. The paper presents three following topics used related process indexes according to the precision and accuray in the continuous process. The contents include diverse process indexs for nonconformities by SPC attribute control charts and bias coefficient. The same technique of the nonconformites is also used in the nonconforming units. The practical examples are provided to help easier understanding for users.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.22-26
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• 2012

The aim of this study was to evaluate the anti-inlfammatory effect of the extract of Zanthoxylum schinifolium on ulcerative colitis induced by 3% dextran sulfate sodium in the rat. The experiment animals were divided into six groups: control (normal), DDS-induced colitis, 1 mg/kg, 15 mg/kg and 150 mg/kg of the extract of Z. schinifolium and 150 mg/kg of 5-aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA) as comparative drug. Anti-ulcerative colitis effect was evaluated pathologically by disease activity index (DAI), the change of weight and myeloperoxidase (MPO) in colon mucosa. Treatment with 15 mg/kg and 150 mg/kg of the extract of Z. schinifolium significantly improved the gain of body weight and DAI as clinical symptoms, and reduced MPO and $PGE_2$ level as biochemical index. Especially, 150 mg/kg of the extract of Z. schinifolium showed markedly more improvement than the same dose of 5-ASA in all kind of index such as MPO, $PGE_2$ and DAI. These results suggest that Z. schinifolium mediated anti-inflammatory action on colorectal sites may be a useful therapeutic approach to ulcerative colitis.

• The Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Business
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.317-328
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• 2021

This study examines the impact of bank competition and efficiency in the financial stability of the banking sector in Bangladesh. The study used the Lerner index and the Boone indicator to represent the bank competition, while the non-performing loan (NPL) and Z-score are used to represent financial stability. The secondary data were collected from the annual reports of 28 DSE listed commercial banks of Bangladesh over the period from 2011 to 2018. Using a dynamic panel GMM model, the study found the Lerner index is significantly negatively related with Z-score, which means that higher bank competition results in higher bank stability. It is also seen that higher cost efficiency results in higher bank stability. The Lerner index has negative, but insignificant impact on NPL. Similarly, using the Boone indicator, this study found that lower competition increases NPL. In terms of the Z-score, the Boone indicator found that 1 unit of increment results in decrease of the Z-score by 6.15 units. The study suggests that, as more competition results in more financial soundness, the banking industry competition should be ensured by policymakers or regulators. Banks could enhance financial stability by cost control to achieve cost efficiency as well as by improving loan-to-asset ratio.

• The Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Business
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.275-283
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• 2022

This study aims to investigate the influence of internal factors on the bankruptcy risk of an enterprise through a sample of 439 companies listed on the Vietnamese stock exchange. The research collected secondary data from annual audited financial statements from 2008 to 2019 of listing companies. Using two different regression models with two dependent variables, six independent and control variables, we discovered that three of the model's six factors, namely return on total assets, current payment rate, and financial leverage, influence the risk of bankruptcy and account for 86.78% of the variations in firm bankruptcy risk. Financial leverage has the opposite effect on the Z-score index, increasing the risk of bankruptcy of listed firms. Return on total assets and current ratio have a positive impact on the Z-score index, reducing the risk of bankruptcy of listed companies. The findings also revealed that there is no evidence that the size of a corporation, its fixed asset investment ratio, or the size of an auditing firm have an impact on the Z-score index. These findings provide crucial evidence for business owners and managers, as well as shareholders making future capital investment decisions. Our findings can be applied to other businesses in Vietnam and similar jurisdictions.