• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.88-93
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• 2004

This study was conducted in order to compare reflux extraction(RE) and microwave-assisted extraction(MAE) in extraction efficiency and establish optimum microwave extraction conditions in obtaining Aster scaber Thunb extracts. Extraction time was reduced considerably in MAE. When 70％ methanol, 50％ methanol, 70％ ethanol, or 50％ ethanol was used, no difference was found in the amount of soluble solid and total phenol between MAE and RE. The optimum microwave-assisted extraction conditions for Aster scaber Thunb were achieved by 120-150 watts of microwave energy and 4∼8 minutes of extraction time. No significant changes were found in antioxidant activity using DPPH scavenging method over the variation of microwave power or extraction time. The use of diluted methanol or ethanol improved soluble solid content(30.8％), total polyphenol content(2.9％) and antioxidant activity(69％ ).

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.53 no.9
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• pp.2977-2981
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• 2021

Corrosion fatigue crack growth (FCG) behavior of 316LN stainless steel was investigated in high-temperature pressurized water at different temperatures, load ratios (R = K_max/K_min) and rise times (t_R). The environmental assisted effect on FCG rate was observed when both the R and t_R exceeded their critical values. The FCG rate showed a linear relation with stress intensity factor range (ΔK) in double logarithmic coordinate. The environmental assisted effect on FCG rate depended on the ΔK and quantitative relations were proposed. Possible mechanisms of environmental assisted FCG rate under different testing conditions are also discussed.

• Integrative Medicine Research
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.388-394
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• 2017

Background: The present study optimized ultrasound-assisted extraction conditions to maximize extraction yields of glycyrrhizic acid from licorice. Methods: The optimal extraction temperature ($X_1$), extraction time ($X_2$), and methanol concentration ($X_3$) were identified using response surface methodology (RSM). A central composite design (CCD) was used for experimental design and analysis of the results to obtain the optimal processing parameters. Results: Statistical analyses revealed that three variables and the quadratic of $X_1$, $X_2$, and $X_3$ had significant effects on the yields and were followed by significant interaction effects between the variables of $X_2$ and $X_3$ (p<0.01). A 3D response surface plot and contour plots derived from the mathematical models were applied to determine the optimal conditions. The optimum ultrasound-assisted extraction conditions were as follows: extraction temperature, $69^{\circ}C$; extraction time, 34?min; and methanol concentration, 57%. Under these conditions, the experimental yield of glycyrrhizic acid was 3.414%, which agreed closely with the predicted value (3.406%). Conclusion: The experimental values agreed with those predicted by RSM models, thus indicating the suitability of the model employed and the success of RSM in optimizing the extraction conditions.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.48 no.2
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• pp.184-187
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• 2021

Radical trachelectomy is a fertility-preserving alternative to radical hysterectomy in carefully selected young women with early-stage cervical cancer. However, in cases with subsequent severe cervical stenosis, assisted reproductive techniques can be difficult. This is a case report of a 34-year-old patient who underwent robot-assisted radical trachelectomy and cerclage for early-stage (IB2) adenosquamous carcinoma. Three months after surgery, the patient underwent ovarian stimulation using a gonadotropin-releasing hormone antagonist protocol. As it was impossible to perform transcervical embryo transfer due to the almost complete absence of the cervical opening, transmyometrial embryo transfer under ultrasound guidance was performed. This resulted in a successful singleton pregnancy. This is the first case of successful pregnancy conceived by in vitro fertilization with transmyometrial embryo transfer in a patient who had previously undergone robot-assisted radical trachelectomy.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.48 no.2
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• pp.142-149
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• 2021

Objective: Bacteriospermia and urogenital infections are common problems in male infertility. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of bacteriospermia on sperm parameters and clinical outcomes in semen samples infected with two common bacteria (Staphylococcus saprophyticus and Escherichia coli) in northern Iran. Methods: Microbiological tests were performed to isolate and identify organisms from 435 semen samples from infertile couples. Semen samples were assessed according to the World Health Organization criteria. The protamine status, chromatin structure, chromatin condensation, and acrosome reaction of sperm and assisted reproductive outcomes were determined in couples with different male infertility factors. Results: Among the total cases, the two most prevalent pathogens were considered: S. saprophyticus (38.2%) and E. coli (52.9%). In the semen samples infected with E. coli, the spontaneous acrosome reaction and abnormal chromatin condensation were more common (p<0.05). Significant increases in abnormal chromatin condensation and deprotamination were seen in the presence of S. saprophyticus. In washed semen, tight adhesion between the sperm midpiece and S. saprophyticus was observed. There was also a significant decrease in the fertilization rate using semen samples infected with S. saprophyticus and E. coli during in vitro fertilization cycles (p<0.001). In addition, the presence of S. saprophyticus and E. coli in semen samples was associated with a lower likelihood of clinical pregnancy in couples with various factors of male infertility. Conclusion: Poor results of assisted reproductive techniques may be correlated with semen samples infected with two common bacteria in northern Iran.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.49 no.3
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• pp.373-377
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• 2022

Currently, robot-assisted latissimus dorsi muscle flap (RLDF) surgery is used in treating patients with Poland syndrome and for breast reconstruction. However, conventional RLDF surgery has several inherent issues. We resolved the existing problems of the conventional system by introducing the da Vinci single-port system in patients with Poland syndrome. Overall, three patients underwent RLDF surgery using the da Vinci single-port system with gas insufflation. In the female patient, after performing RLDF with silicone implant, augmentation mammoplasty was also performed on the contralateral side. Both surgeries were performed as single-port robotic-assisted surgery through the transaxillary approach. The mean operating time was 449 (335-480) minutes; 8.67 (4-14) minutes were required for docking and 59 (52-67) minutes for robotic dissection and LD harvesting. No patients had perioperative complication and postoperative problems related to gas inflation. The single-port robot-assisted surgical system overcomes the drawbacks of previous robotic surgery in patients with Poland syndrome, significantly shortens the procedure time of robotic surgery, has superior cosmetic outcomes in a surgical scar, and improves the operator's convenience. Furthermore, concurrent application to another surgery demonstrates the possibility in the broad application of the robotic single-port surgical system.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.95-100
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• 2023

With the implementation of Act on Hospice and Palliative Care and Decisions on Life-Sustaining Treatment for Patients at the End of Life, interests of the general public on self-determination right and dignified death of patients have increased markedly in Korea. However, "self-determination" on medical care is misunderstood as decision not to sustain life, and "dignified death" as terminating life before suffering from disease in terminal stage. This belief leads that physician-assisted suicide should be accommodated is being proliferated widely in the society even without accepting euthanasia. Artificially terminating the life of a human is an unethical act even though there is any rational or motivation by the person requesting euthanasia, and there is agreement thereof has been reached while there are overseas countries that allow euthanasia. Given the fact that the essence of medical care is to enable the human to live their lives in greater comfort by enhancing their health throughout their lives, physician-assisted suicide should be deemed as one of the means of euthanasia, not as a means of dignified death. Accordingly, institutional organization and improvement of the quality of hospice palliative care to assist the patients suffering from terminal stage or intractable diseases in putting their lives in order and to more comfortably accept the end of life physically, mentally, socially, psychologically and spiritually need to be implemented first to ensure their dignified death.

• International conference on construction engineering and project management
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• 2020.12a
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• pp.129-136
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• 2020

Augmented reality (AR) technology assists construction workers by superimposing additional virtual information onto their real worksite environments. Ideally, this provides them with a better understanding of their tasks and hence boosts task performance. However, the additional information that AR places in users' field of view could limit their ability to understand what is going on in their surroundings and to predict how conditions may change in the near future. AR-assisted systems on construction sites could therefore expose their users to safety risks due to disturbance from the system. Hence, it is important to understand how AR-assisted systems can block users' understanding of their immediate environments, and in turn, how worksite safety in the construction industry could be improved through better design of such systems. This preliminary research conducted a laboratory experiment that simulated rebar inspection tasks and compared the situational awareness of AR users against that of subjects using traditional paper-based inspection methods, as measured by the Situation Awareness Rating Technique. Based on the results, we discuss the safety impact of head-mounted AR-assisted displays on situational awareness during construction tasks.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.281-284
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• 2008

A simple and efficient microwave-assisted extraction procedure was developed and optimized for the extraction of paclitaxel from the plant cell cultures of Taxus chinensis. The biomass, immersed in a methanol-water mixture, was irradiated with microwaves in a closed-vessel system. The microwave-assisted extraction was compared with the existing conventional solvent extraction in terms of yield, extraction time, and solvent consumption. The use of microwave energy allows rapid recovery of paclitaxel from biomass and dramatically reduces extraction time and solvent usage compared to conventional solvent extraction. The paclitaxel was completely extracted from biomass by microwave-assisted extraction for 3 min at $50^{\circ}C$, for 6 min at $30^{\circ}C$ and $40^{\circ}C$, respectively.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.327-332
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• 2012

This study aimed to see if as companion animals living with human beings, dogs could provide emotional stability or play a therapeutic role for human beings. Of 12 middle school boys as victims of school violence, 6 were assigned to the experimental group that was provided with an animal-assisted therapy program over a total of 12 sections, one section per week, 60 minutes per section, between September and November 2011, followed by post-test 1 and, one month later, post-test 2. In the experimental composition, the remaining 6 boys were assigned to the comparison group that was allowed to read freely. Analysis was performed by using the scales of depression and self-esteem, and the results showed that the experimental group provided with the animal-assisted therapy program generated more significant therapeutic effects than the comparison group. The therapeutic effects were found to persist one month after the completion of the program. Therefore, it is believed that sensitive adolescents who suffer from depression or have lost self-esteem because of school violence can significantly benefit from an animal-assisted therapy program by reducing the recovery time or by getting lots of help with emotional stability. Further research on the basis of this study is expected to help adolescents with emotional therapy in other areas.