• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.275-283
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• 2020

Background: Previous studies showed neurography and tractography of the greater occipital nerve (GON). The purpose of this study was determining diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) parameters of bilateral GONs and dorsal root ganglia (DRG) in unilateral cervicogenic headache as well as the grading value of DTI for severe headache. The correlation between DTI parameters and clinical characteristics was evaluated. Methods: The fractional anisotropy (FA) and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values in bilateral GONs and cervical DRG (C2 and C3) were measured. Grading values for headache severity was calculated using a receiver operating characteristics curve. The correlation was analyzed with Pearson's coefficient. Results: The FA values of the symptomatic side of GON and cervical DRG (C2 and C3) were significantly lower than that of the asymptomatic side (all the P < 0.001), while the ADC values were significantly higher (P = 0.003, P < 0.001, and P = 0.003, respectively). The FA value of 0.205 in C2 DRG was considered the grading parameter for headache severity with sensitivity of 0.743 and specificity of 0.999 (P < 0.001). A negative correlation and a positive correlation between the FA and ADC value of the GON and headache index (HI; r = -0.420, P = 0.037 and r = 0.531, P = 0.006, respectively) was found. Conclusions: DTI parameters in the symptomatic side of the C2 and C3 DRG and GON were significantly changed. The FA value of the C2 DRG can grade headache severity. DTI parameters of the GON significantly correlated with HI.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.110 no.4
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• pp.569-576
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• 2021

This study developed an estimation model for litterfall input using the stand parameters (basal area, stand density, mean DBH, and carbon stocks of the aboveground tree biomass) collected from the Korean red pine (Pinus densiflora S. et Z.) stands of seven regions in Gyeongsangnam-do. The mean annual litterfall was 2,779 kg ha^-1 year^-1 for needles, 883 kg ha^-1 year^-1 for miscellaneous, 611 kg ha^-1 year^-1 for broadleaved, 513 kg ha^-1 year^-1 for branches, and 340 kg ha^-1 year^-1 for bark litter. The mean annual total litterfall was 5,051 kg ha^-1 year^-1. Litterfall components were significantly correlated with stand parameters, except for broadleaved litter. A stronger correlation was observed between the carbon stock of the aboveground tree biomass and all the litterfall components compared with the other stand variables. The allometric equations for all the litterfall components were significant (P < 0.05), with the stand parameters accounting for 5%-43% and 8%-42% of the variation in the needle litter and total litterfall, respectively. The results indicated that the annual litterfall inputs of the Korean red pine stands on a regional scale can be effectively estimated by allometric equations using the basal area and carbon stocks of the aboveground tree biomass.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.112-118
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• 2019

Objective: Oxidative stress contributes to male infertility, and antioxidants have been recommended for treating idiopathic oligoasthenoteratozoospermia (OAT). There is, however, a lack of agreement on the type, dosing, and use of individual antioxidants or combinations thereof. The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of two doses of coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) on semen parameters and antioxidant status in men with idiopathic OAT. Methods: In this prospective study, patients with idiopathic OAT received 200 mg/day (n = 35) or 400 mg/day (n = 30) of CoQ10 orally for 3 months. All patients underwent semen analysis according to the fifth editions of the World Health Organization criteria. Total antioxidant capacity (TAC), catalase (CAT) activity, and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity were measured both before and after treatment. Results: Treatment with CoQ10 (200 mg/day or 400 mg/day) resulted in a significant increase in sperm concentration from baseline ($8.22{\pm}6.88$ to $12.53{\pm}8.11million/mL$, p= 0.019; $7.58{\pm}5.41$ to $12.33{\pm}6.1million/mL$, p= 0.002, respectively), progressive motility ($16.54%{\pm}9.26%$ to $22.58%{\pm}10.15%$, p=0.011; $14.22%{\pm}12.85%$ to $26.1%{\pm}14.52%$, p= 0.001, respectively), and total motility ($25.68%{\pm}6.41%$ to $29.96%{\pm}8.09%$, p= 0.016; $23.46%{\pm}12.59%$ to $34.82%{\pm}14.17%$, p= 0.001, respectively). CoQ10 therapy also increased TAC (p= 0.009, p= 0.001, respectively), SOD activity (p= 0.004, p= 0.001, respectively), and CAT activity (p= 0.039, p= 0.024, respectively). Furthermore, antioxidant measures correlated significantly with seminal fluid parameters (r = 0.36-0.76). Conclusion: CoQ10 supplementation improved semen parameters and antioxidant status in men with idiopathic OAT, with a greater improvement shown in men who took 400 mg/day than in those who took 200 mg/day.

• Membrane and Water Treatment
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.29-38
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• 2019

Microbial community and composition in stormwater runoff from mixed land use land cover (LULC) catchment with ongoing land development was diverse across the hydrological stage due different environmental parameters (hydrometeorological and physicochemical) and source of runoff. However, limited studies have been made for bacterial composition in this catchment. Therefore, this study aims to: (1) quantify the concentration of fecal indicator bacteria (FIB), stormwater quality and bacterial composition and structure according to hydrological stage; and (2) determine their correlation to environmental parameters. The 454 pyrosequencing was used to determine the bacterial community and composition; while Pearson's correlation was used to determine the correlation among parameters-FIB, stormwater quality, bacterial composition and structure-to environmental parameters. Results demonstrated that the initial and peak runoff has the highest concentration of FIB, stormwater quality and bacterial composition and structure. Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Actinobacteria and Firmicutes were dominant bacteria identified in this catchment. Furthermore, the 20 most abundant genera were correlated with runoff duration, average rainfall intensity, runoff volume, runoff flow, temperature, pH, organic matter, nutrients, TSS and turbidity. An increase of FIB and stormwater quality concentration, diversity and richness of bacterial composition and structure in this study was possibly due to leakage from septic tanks, cesspools and latrines; feces of domestic and wild animals; and runoff from forest, destroyed septic system in land development site and urban LULC. Overall, this study will provide an evidence of hydrological stage impacts on the runoff microbiome environment and public health perspective.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.12-19
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• 2021

Objective: The objectives of the current study were to study the main environmental factors affecting birth weight (BW) and weaning weight (WW), estimate variance components, genetic parameters and genetic trend and to evaluate the variability and relationships among breeding value of BW and WW using principal components analysis (PCA). Methods: A total of 16,370 records were collected from 8,271 buffalo calves. Genetic parameters and breeding values were estimated using a bivariate animal model which includes direct, maternal and permanent maternal effects. These estimates were standardized and used in PCA. Results: The direct heritability estimates were 0.06 and 0.41 for BW and WW, respectively whereas direct maternal heritability values were 0.03 and 0.14, respectively. Proportions of variance due to permanent environmental effects of dam were 0.455 and 0.280 for BW and WW respectively. The genetic correlation between BW and WWs was weak approaching zero, but the maternal correlation was 0.26. The first two principal components (PC1 and PC2) were estimated utilizing the standardized breeding values according to Kaiser method. The total variance explained by the first two PCs was 71.17% in which 45.91% and 25.25% were explained by PC1 and PC2, respectively. The direct breeding values of BW were related to PC2 but those of WW and maternal breeding values of BW and WWs were associated with PC1. Conclusion: The results of genetic parameters and PCA indicate that BW and WWs were not genetically correlated and improving growth traits of Egyptian buffaloes could be achieved using WW without any adverse effect by BW.

• The Bulletin of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.46 no.1
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• pp.42.1-42.1
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• 2021

In this study, we present a visual explanation of a deep learning solar flare forecast model and its relationship to physical parameters of solar active regions (ARs). For this, we use full-disk magnetograms at 00:00 UT from the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory/Michelson Doppler Imager and the Solar Dynamics Observatory/Helioseismic and Magnetic Imager, physical parameters from the Space-weather HMI Active Region Patch (SHARP), and Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite X-ray flare data. Our deep learning flare forecast model based on the Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) predicts "Yes" or "No" for the daily occurrence of C-, M-, and X-class flares. We interpret the model using two CNN attribution methods (guided backpropagation and Gradient-weighted Class Activation Mapping [Grad-CAM]) that provide quantitative information on explaining the model. We find that our deep learning flare forecasting model is intimately related to AR physical properties that have also been distinguished in previous studies as holding significant predictive ability. Major results of this study are as follows. First, we successfully apply our deep learning models to the forecast of daily solar flare occurrence with TSS = 0.65, without any preprocessing to extract features from data. Second, using the attribution methods, we find that the polarity inversion line is an important feature for the deep learning flare forecasting model. Third, the ARs with high Grad-CAM values produce more flares than those with low Grad-CAM values. Fourth, nine SHARP parameters such as total unsigned vertical current, total unsigned current helicity, total unsigned flux, and total photospheric magnetic free energy density are well correlated with Grad-CAM values.

• Sleep Medicine and Psychophysiology
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.34-42
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• 2000

Objectives: Periodic limb movements in sleep(PLMS) is a moderately prevalent disorder, of which pathophysiology remains largely unknown. PLMS has been reported to be common in patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome(OSAS), but reports on their relationship have been inconsistent in previous studies. Inconsistency of results may be attributable to insufficient number of the study subjects. We attempted to explore the influence of OSAS on PLMS in a large number of subjects. Methods: Three hundred and twenty subjects(M : F=192:128) with PLMS, as identified by the nocturnal polysomnography, were studied. Sample mean age was 53.1(SD=15.1) years and their mean periodic limb movement index(PLMI) is 25.2/hr (SD=24.8). PLMS subjects were divided into two groups, based on the presence or absence of OSAS. Periodic limb movement indices and sleep parameters between two groups were analyzed to evaluate the effects of OSAS on PLMS. Results: Each of PLMI and PLMI with arousal(PLMAI) correlated positively with age. PLMI of men was larger than that of women (p<0.01). The presence of comorbid OSAS independently had influence on PLMI(t=-2.20, p<0.05), but not PLMAI. There were no significant differences between the two groups in their PLMI, PLMAI and sleep parameters. However, the two groups differed in PLMI-correlated sleep parameters. In PLMS subjects with comorbid OSAS, PLMI was negatively correlated with each of slow wave sleep time and REM sleep time. In subjects without comorbid OSAS, PLMI was negatively correlated with sleep efficiency. Conclusion: PLMS patients with OSAS turned out to have increased PLMI than those without OSAS We suggest that OSAS patients may have subtle autonomic arousals and these arousals could, in part, express themselves as PLM.

• Journal of rehabilitation welfare engineering & assistive technology
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.251-257
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• 2016

The Pediatric Balance Scale (PBS) was balance measurement equipment for school-age children with mild to moderate motor impairments. The aims of this study are to examine the correlation between PBS and spatiotemporal gait parameter and to identify the walking function with cerebral palsy through balance scale. The PBS consists of 14 items such as sitting of standing, standing to sitting, transfers, standing unsupported, standing on one foot, turning 360 degrees, turing to look behind, etc., and the spatiotemporal parameters include walking speed, stride length, step length, step width, cadence, double-limb support. All subjects were independently ambulatory children with spastic diplegic cerebral palsy, and they were assessed on PBS and spatiotemporal gait parameters by an experienced pediatric physical therapist. Pearson's correlation coefficient was used to assess the correlation between PBS and spatiotemporal gait parameters, and the level of significance was set at ${\alpha}$ = 0.05. Total score of PBS(r=.49~.58), standing to sitting(r=.48~.60), turning to look behind(r=.47~.53), and pick up object(r=.52~.69) were positively correlated with walking speed, stride length, step length, and cadence. Most items of the PBS were negatively correlated with double-limb support(r=-.48~-.92). These findings suggest that the pediatric balance scale can be applied to estimate gait function level for children with spastic diplegic cerebral palsy.

• Korean Journal of Remote Sensing
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.35-43
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• 2013

We analyzed the relationships between backscattering coefficients of wheat measured by COSMO-SkyMed SAR and biophysical measurements such as biomass, vegetation water content, and soil moisture over an entire wheat growth period. Backscattering coefficients increased until DOY 129 and then decreased along with fresh weight, dry weight, and vegetation water content. Correlation analysis between backscattering and wheat growth parameters revealed that backscatter correlated well with fresh weight (r=0.88), vegetation water content (r=0.87), and dry weight (r=0.80), while backscatter did not correlated with soil moisture (r=0.18). Prediction equations for estimation of wheat growth parameters from the backscattering coefficients were developed.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.54-60
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• 2020

Objective: Oxidative stress plays a key role in the pathogenesis of male infertility. But, the adverse effects of oxidative biomarkers on sperm quality remain unclear. This study aimed to investigate the levels of nitric oxide (NO), 8-hydroxydesoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) oxidative biomarkers in seminal plasma and their relationship with sperm parameters. Methods: A total of 77 volunteers participated in the study, including fertile (n = 40) and infertile men (n = 37). NO, 8-OHdG, and TAC levels were measured using the ferric reducing ability of plasma, Griess reagent method and an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit, respectively. Results: The mean values of sperm parameters in the infertile group were significantly lower than those in the fertile group (p< 0.001). The mean 8-OHdG in the seminal plasma of infertile men was significantly higher (p= 0.013) than those of controls, while the mean TAC was significantly lower (p= 0.046). There was no significant difference in NO level between the two groups. The elevated seminal 8-OHdG levels were negatively correlated with semen volume, total sperm counts and morphology (p< 0.001, p= 0.001 and p= 0.052, respectively). NO levels were negatively correlated with semen volume, total sperm counts and morphology (p= 0.014, p= 0.020 and p= 0.060, respectively). Positive correlations between TAC and both sperm count and morphology (p= 0.043 and p= 0.025, respectively) were also found. Conclusion: These results suggested that increased levels of NO and 8-OHdG in seminal plasma could have a negative effect on sperm function by inducing damage to the sperm DNA hence their fertility potentials. Therefore, these biomarkers can be useful in the diagnosis and treatment of male infertility.