• International Commerce and Information Review
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.25-48
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• 2009

With the rapid growth of e-logistics in the global logistics industry, it is important to gain further insight into this growing segment of Chinese logistics industry. The current situation in China consists of many small and medium-sized logistics firms. Furthermore, e-logistics is still relatively undeveloped in the majority of the Chinese logistics companies and presently there are still many problems unresolved. This paper attempted to review the concepts and theoretical background of e-logistics systems from previous studies. After acknowledging the essential issues related to e-logistics systems, a research model based on the theory acceptance model was designed and tested. The key factors to the e-logistics system (reliability, maintainability, software, facility and transportation) were validated through the modeling and testing process. Included in the modelling and testing process are other related factors of e-logistics process, logistics information system and added value as dependent variables in this model. The results of this study confirm that the e-logistics Process is affected by transportation, while maintainability and software factors influence logistics information system. reliability, maintainability, facility and transportation are significant factors associated with added value. This research aimed to provide theoretical and practical contribution to Chinese logistics companies and to give some insights into e-logistics system as a whole. The paper also provided some useful theoretical implication and practical guidelines for the development of e-logistics system in the chinese logistics industry.

• International Commerce and Information Review
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.3-26
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• 2009

With the rapid growth of e-logistics in the global logistics industry, it is important to gain further insight into this growing segment of Chinese logistics industry. The current situation in China consists of many small and medium-sized logistics firms. Furthermore, e-logistics is still relatively undeveloped in the majority of the Chinese logistics companies and presently there are still many problems unresolved. This paper attempted to review the concepts and theoretical background of e-logistics systems from previous studies. After acknowledging the essential issues related to e-logistics systems, a research model based on the theory acceptance model was designed and tested. The key factors to the e-logistics system (reliability, maintainability, software, facility and transportation) were validated through the modeling and testing process. Included in the modelling and testing process are other related factors of e-logistics process, logistics information system and added value as dependent variables in this model. The results of this study confirm that the e-logistics Process is affected by transportation, while maintainability and software factors influence logistics information system. reliability, maintainability, facility and transportation are significant factors associated with added value. This research aimed to provide theoretical and practical contribution to Chinese logistics companies and to give some insights into e-logistics system as a whole. The paper also provided some useful theoretical implication and practical guidelines for the development of e-logistics system in the chinese logistics industry.

• The Journal of Korean Institute of Communications and Information Sciences
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• v.21 no.12
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• pp.3215-3226
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• 1996

In this paper a K-band harmonic oscillator competitive to ordinary Push-Push type oscillators is introduced. This oscillator is composed of two-X-band dielectric resonance circuits. To favor its harmonic generation, the load effect and the bias effect are studied to allow the maximum harmonic distortion. As results, the dielectric resonated load and the class A bias are used for the 2nd harmonic generation. analytical study for modelling of voltage controlled dielectric resonator is carried out with theoretical background. The performance of the circuit is evaluated by simulation using harmonic balanced method. The novel structure has ont only a voltage tuning circuit but also an output port at fundamental frequency as the function of prescaler for phase lockede loop application on the just single oscillation structure. In experimentation, the output freqneyc of the 2nd harmonic signal is 20.5GHz and the maximum power level of output is +5.5dBm without additional post amplifiers. the harmonic oscillator exhibits -30dBc of high fundamental frequency rejection without added extra filters. The phase noise of -90dBc/Hz at 100kHz off-carrier has been achieved under free running condition, that satisfies phase noise requirement of IESS 308. The proposed oscillator may be utilized as the clean and stable fixed local oscillator in Transmit Block Upconvertor(TBU) or Low oise Block downconvertor(LNB) for K/Ka-band digital communications and satellite broadcastings.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Intelligent Systems
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• v.18 no.6
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• pp.731-736
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• 2008

In this paper, we propose the movement detection algorithm by using virtual skeleton model. To do this, first, we eliminate error values by using conventioanl method based on RGB color model and eliminate unnecessary values by using the HSI color model. Second, we construct the virtual skeleton model with skeleton information of 10 peoples. After matching this virtual model to original image, we extract the real head silhouette by using the proposed circle searching method. Third, we extract the object by using the mean-shift algorithm and this head information. Finally, we validate the applicability of the proposed method through the various experiments in a complex environments.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.492-503
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• 2021

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Recently, the recommended nutrient intakes (RNI) for vitamin D for Malaysian aged 1-70 yrs has been revised from 5 ㎍/day to 15 ㎍/day. This study is aimed to assess the adequacy of vitamin D intake based on revised RNI and to recommend several dietary strategies to increase total vitamin D intake. SUBJECTS/METHODS: Vitamin D intake from both food and supplement of 217 pregnant women was assessed using a validated food frequency questionnaire. Hypothetical effect of expanded supplementation and food fortifications strategies were modelled using the consumption data. RESULTS: The results revealed that more than half (67.7%) of pregnant women had inadequate vitamin D intake (RNI < 15 ㎍/day). The modelling results demonstrated the potential of universal provision of 10 ㎍/day of multivitamins supplements in increasing vitamin D intake. Moreover, mandatory fortification of both milk and malted drink at single level of 5 ㎍/serving would lead to increase in vitamin D intake of Malaysians, particularly pregnant women. CONCLUSIONS: The outcome of this study can be used as a reference for public health professionals to re-evaluate the existing Malaysian food fortification policies and supplementation recommendation for vitamin D for pregnant women.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.456-468
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• 2022

Background: This study examines quality of life (QOL) of a sample of police officers in India. The concept of QOL includes well-being, social obligations, relationships of a person, and his association with environment. The study examines the factors on which QOL of police officers depend and their relationships with each other. The issues linked with QOL are important because they directly affect the individual's ability to maintain a healthy lifestyle and affect organizational performance in the long run. This study explores relevant factors that have an impact on the QOL of the employees of police department in India. Method: In this paper, literatures review, ISM, MICMAC, and DEMATEL methodology have established eleven factors that impact the QOL of police officers in India. Mutual relations between factors have been established using the ISM approach to develop a model to represent these relationships. DEMATEL methodologies were used to analyze these factors. Results: Results indicate that "fair compensation, work overload, workplace safety, and job stress" are the top-level factors that affect QOL of police officers. Conclusion: The identification of factors and their mutual relationships that affect QOL are important for police officers and have to be dealt with according to their order of importance. The research model developed in this study shows how the factors of police officers' QOL are interrelated and presents the interrelationships among these factors. A comprehensive model depicting the relationships among these factors has been established, so that the QOL of police officers can be improved.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.11-20
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• 2007

AAM has been successfully applied to face alignment, but its performance is very sensitive to initial values. In this paper, we propose a face alignment method using progressive AAM. The proposed method consists of two stages; modelling and relation derivation stage and fitting stage. Modelling and relation derivation stage first builds two AAM models; the inner face AAM model and the whole face AAM model and then derive the relation matrix between the inner face AAM model parameter vector and the whole face AAM model parameter vector. The fitting stage is processed progressively in two phases. In the first phase, the proposed method finds the feature parameters for the inner facial feature points of a new face, and then in the second phase it localizes the whole facial feature points of the new face using the initial values estimated utilizing the inner feature parameters obtained in the first phase and the relation matrix obtained in the first stage. Through experiments, it is verified that the proposed progressive AAM-based face alignment method is more robust with respect to pose, and face background than the conventional basic AAM-based face alignment.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.14
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• pp.6073-6080
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• 2015

Background: Melanoma differentiation-associated gene-7 (MDA-7)/interleukin-24 (IL-24), a unique tumor suppressor gene, has killing activity in a broad spectrum of cancer cells. Herein, plasmids producing mda-7 proteins fused to different RGD peptides (full RGD4C and shortened RGD, tRGD) were evaluated for apoptosis induction with a hepatocellular carcinoma cell line, Hep-G2. The study aim was to improve the apoptosis potency of mda-7 by tethering to RGD peptides. Materials and Methods: Three plasmids including mda-7, mda-7-RGD and mda-7-tRGD genes beside a control vector were transfected into Hep-G2 cells. After 72 hours incubation, cell viability was evaluated by MTT assay. In addition, the rate of apoptosis was analyzed by flow cytometry using PI/annexin staining. To detect early events in apoptosis, 18 hours after transfection, expression of the BAX gene was quantified by real time PCR. Modeling of proteins was also performed to extrapolate possible consequences of RGD modification on their structures and subsequent attachment to receptors. Results and Conclusions: In MTT assays, while all mda-7 forms showed measurable inhibition of proliferation, unmodified mda-7 protein exhibited most significant effect compared to control plasmid (P<0.001). Again, flow cytometry analysis showed a significant apoptosis induction by simple mda-7 gene but not for those RGD-fused mda-7 proteins. These findings were also supported by expression analysis of BAX gene (P<0.001). Protein modelling analysis revealed that tethering RGD at the end of IL-24/Mda7 disrupt attachment to cognate receptor, IL-20R1/IL-20R2. In conclusion, fusion of RGD4C and shortened RGD peptides to carboxyl terminal of mda7, not only reduce apoptosis property in vitro but also disrupt receptor attachment as demonstrated by protein modelling.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.56-66
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• 2016

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Despite successes recorded in combating iodine deficiency, more than 2 billion people are still at risk of iodine deficiency disorders. Rural landlocked and mountainous areas of developing countries are the hardest hit, hence the need to explore and advance novel strategies such as biofortification. SUBJECTS/METHODS: We evaluated adoption, purchase, and consumption of iodine biofortified vegetable legumes (IBVL) using the theory of protection motivations (PMT) integrated with an economic valuation technique. A total of 1,200 participants from three land-locked locations in East Africa were recruited via multi-stage cluster sampling, and data were collected using two, slightly distinct, questionnaires incorporating PMT constructs. The survey also elicited preferences for iodine biofortified foods when offered at a premium or discount. Determinants of protection motivations and preferences for iodine biofortified foods were assessed using path analysis modelling and two-limit Tobit regression, respectively. RESULTS: Knowledge of iodine, iodine-health link, salt iodization, and biofortification was very low, albeit lower at the household level. Iodine and biofortification were not recognized as nutrient and novel approaches, respectively. On the other hand, severity, fear, occupation, knowledge, iodine status, household composition, and self-efficacy predicted the intention to consume biofortified foods at the household level; only vulnerability, self-efficacy, and location were the most crucial elements at the school level. In addition, results demonstrated a positive willingness-to-pay a premium or acceptance of a lesser discount for biofortification. Furthermore, preference towards iodine biofortified foods was a function of protection motivations, severity, vulnerability, fear, response efficacy, response cost, knowledge, iodine status, gender, age. and household head. CONCLUSIONS: Results lend support for prevention of iodine deficiency in unprotected populations through biofortification; however 'threat' appraisal and socio-economic predictors are decisive in designing nutrition interventions and stimulating uptake of biofortification. In principle, the contribution is threefold: 1) Successful application of the integrated model to guide policy formulation; 2) Offer guidance to stakeholders to identify and tap niche markets; 3) stimulation of rural economic growth around school feeding programmes.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.48 no.1
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• pp.96-109
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• 2024

Background: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government initiated the Billion Tree Tsunami Afforestation Project including regeneration and afforestation approaches. An effort was made to assess the distribution characteristics of afforested species under present and future climatic scenarios using ecological niche modelling. For sustainable forest management, landscape ecology can play a significant role. A significant change in the potential distribution of tree species is expected globally with changing climate. Ecological niche modeling provides the valuable information about the current and future distribution of species that can play crucial role in deciding the potential sites for afforestation which can be used by government institutes for afforestation programs. In this context, the potential distribution of 8 tree species, Cedrus deodara, Dalbergia sissoo, Juglans regia, Pinus wallichiana, Eucalyptus camaldulensis, Senegalia modesta, Populus ciliata, and Vachellia nilotica was modeled. Results: Maxent species distribution model was used to predict current and future distribution of tree species using bioclimatic variables along with soil type and elevation. Future climate scenarios, shared socio-economic pathways (SSP)2-4.5 and SSP5-8.5 were considered for the years 2041-2060 and 2081-2100. The model predicted high risk of decreasing potential distribution under SSP2-4.5 and SSP5-8.5 climate change scenarios for years 2041-2060 and 2081-2100, respectively. Recent afforestation conservation sites of these 8 tree species do not fall within their predicted potential habitat for SSP2-4.5 and SSP5-8.5 climate scenarios. Conclusions: Each tree species responded independently in terms of its potential habitat to future climatic conditions. Cedrus deodara and P. ciliata are predicted to migrate to higher altitude towards north in present and future climate scenarios. Habitat of D. sissoo, P. wallichiana, J. regia, and V. nilotica is practiced to be declined in future climate scenarios. Eucalyptus camaldulensis is expected to be expanded its suitability area in future with eastward shift. Senegalia modesta habitat increased in the middle of the century but decreased afterwards in later half of the century. The changing and shifting forests create challenges for sustainable landscapes. Therefore, the study is an attempt to provide management tools for monitoring the climate change-driven shifting of forest landscapes.