• Journal of Intelligence and Information Systems
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.181-199
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• 2010

As rapid progress of population aging and strong interest in health, the demand for new healthcare service is increasing. Until now healthcare service has provided post treatment by face-to-face manner. But according to related researches, proactive treatment is resulted to be more effective for preventing diseases. Particularly, the existing healthcare services have limitations in preventing and managing metabolic syndrome such a lifestyle disease, because the cause of metabolic syndrome is related to life habit. As the advent of ubiquitous technology, patients with the metabolic syndrome can improve life habit such as poor eating habits and physical inactivity without the constraints of time and space through u-healthcare service. Therefore, lots of researches for u-healthcare service focus on providing the personalized healthcare service for preventing and managing metabolic syndrome. For example, Kim et al.(2010) have proposed a healthcare model for providing the customized calories and rates of nutrition factors by analyzing the user's preference in foods. Lee et al.(2010) have suggested the customized diet recommendation service considering the basic information, vital signs, family history of diseases and food preferences to prevent and manage coronary heart disease. And, Kim and Han(2004) have demonstrated that the web-based nutrition counseling has effects on food intake and lipids of patients with hyperlipidemia. However, the existing researches for u-healthcare service focus on providing the predefined one-way u-healthcare service. Thus, users have a tendency to easily lose interest in improving life habit. To solve such a problem of u-healthcare service, this research suggests a u-healthcare recommender system which is based on collaborative filtering principle and social network. This research follows the principle of collaborative filtering, but preserves local networks (consisting of small group of similar neighbors) for target users to recommend context aware healthcare services. Our research is consisted of the following five steps. In the first step, user profile is created using the usage history data for improvement in life habit. And then, a set of users known as neighbors is formed by the degree of similarity between the users, which is calculated by Pearson correlation coefficient. In the second step, the target user obtains service information from his/her neighbors. In the third step, recommendation list of top-N service is generated for the target user. Making the list, we use the multi-filtering based on user's psychological context information and body mass index (BMI) information for the detailed recommendation. In the fourth step, the personal information, which is the history of the usage service, is updated when the target user uses the recommended service. In the final step, a social network is reformed to continually provide qualified recommendation. For example, the neighbors may be excluded from the social network if the target user doesn't like the recommendation list received from them. That is, this step updates each user's neighbors locally, so maintains the updated local neighbors always to give context aware recommendation in real time. The characteristics of our research as follows. First, we develop the u-healthcare recommender system for improving life habit such as poor eating habits and physical inactivity. Second, the proposed recommender system uses autonomous collaboration, which enables users to prevent dropping and not to lose user's interest in improving life habit. Third, the reformation of the social network is automated to maintain the quality of recommendation. Finally, this research has implemented a mobile prototype system using JAVA and Microsoft Access2007 to recommend the prescribed foods and exercises for chronic disease prevention, which are provided by A university medical center. This research intends to prevent diseases such as chronic illnesses and to improve user's lifestyle through providing context aware and personalized food and exercise services with the help of similar users'experience and knowledge. We expect that the user of this system can improve their life habit with the help of handheld mobile smart phone, because it uses autonomous collaboration to arouse interest in healthcare.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.41-53
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• 2008

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is defined as glucose intolerance discovered or onset during pregnancy and attention is needed because of increased risk of perinatal morbidties and higher incidence of diabetes afterward. This study was performed to identify dietary factors associated with the development of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). Developed food frequency questionnaire containing 192 food items were used to assess nutritional status of 246 control subjects and 104 GDM subjects. Food habits of subjects were examined in the questionnaire. The more irregularity and less variety of meal were found in GDM group compared to control group and GDM group tended to eat rapidly and do not like vegetables and greasy foods. Total score of food habits in GDM was lower than control group, which suggests that GDM group have undesirable food habits. Mean daily energy and carbohydrate intakes of GDM group were higher than those of control group, and percent energy from protein was significantly higher in control. Nutrient density of protein, calcium, phosphorus and vitamin BI of GDM group was significantly lower than those of control group. Therefore dietary quality of GDM group was lower than that of control group. Odds ratio for GDM was high when energy and carbohydrate intakes were high. And when the intakes of rice, noodle, shiruduk, hamburger, boiled egg, steamed pork shank were high, the odds ratio for GDM was high. These results indicate that the amount and frequencies of several foods and dish items were related with the occurrence of GDM subjects. On the whole, GDM subjects consumed more cereals and less vegetables and less legumes. From these results, pregnant women with GDM tended to have unhealthy food habits, and carbohydrate intake was important dietary factors on the onset of GDM.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.15-29
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• 2003

Objectives: This study was done to find out fatigue and self-reported physical symptoms of Vinylhouse farmers. The results of this study could be used as a basic data to develop health promotion program for Vinylhouse farmers who are suffering from fatigue and physical symptoms. Methods: The 166 respondents, who were working in Vinylhouse and were living in a remoted area where the primary health post located, were participated in this study. Thirty: 30 items of self-reported fatigue scale was used to evaluate the farmers fatigue level which made by Japanese industrial and hygenic association(1988). Twenty four: 24 items of index used by researcher for self-reported physical symptoms was from Lee In Bae's(1999) modified Index which was originated from Cornell Medical Index(1949). Another questionnaires used in this study were developed by researcher through related documents. Results: The results of this study were as follows; Fatigue scores were high in accordance with women(t=-2.212, p<0.05), worse recognized health state(F=20.610, p<.001), lack of sleeping hours(F=3.937, p<0.05), eat irregularly(t=-3.883, p<0.001), don't take a bath after application of chemical(t=-2.950, p<0.01), working time per a day(F=5.633, p<0.01) & working time per a day in Vinylhouse(F=5.247, p<0.01) were long. Subjective physical symptoms were high in accordance with women(t=-3.176, p<0.01), worse recognized health state(F=35.335, p<0.001), and low education(F=3.467, p<0.05). eat irregularly(t=-3.384, p<0.01), alcohol drinking(t=-2.389, p<0.05). When farmers don't take a bath after application of chemical show high(t=-3.188, p<0.01). As a result, the factors affecting to Vinylhouse worker's health were irregular diet habit, scarce exercise, lack of proper rest, symptoms oriented from Vinylhouse work in contaminated environment with high temperature and humidity. Conclusions: Based on this study, health promotion program is necessary for Vinylhouse workers. Also, the development of continuously practical strategy of healthy life style including exercise and comprehensive health promotion program considered the country's social and cultural background are needed.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.17 no.11
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• pp.1615-1634
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• 2004

A review was undertaken to obtain information on the sustainability of pig free-range production systems including the management, performance and health of pigs in the system. Modern outdoor rearing systems requires simple portable and flexible housing with low cost fencing. Local pig breeds and outdoor-adapted breeds for certain environment are generally more suitable for free-range systems. Free-range farms should be located in a low rainfall area and paddocks should be relatively flat, with light topsoil overlying free-draining subsoil with the absence of sharp stones that can cause foot damage. Huts or shelters are crucial for protecting pigs from direct sun burn and heat stress, especially when shade from trees and other facilities is not available. Pigs commonly graze on strip pastures and are rotated between paddocks. The zones of thermal comfort for the sow and piglet differ markedly; between 12-22$^{\circ}C$ for the sow and 30-37$^{\circ}C$ for piglets. Offering wallows for free-range pigs meets their behavioural requirements, and also overcomes the effects of high ambient temperatures on feed intake. Pigs can increase their evaporative heat loss via an increase in the proportion of wet skin by using a wallow, or through water drips and spray. Mud from wallows can also coat the skin of pigs, preventing sunburn. Under grazing conditions, it is difficult to control the fibre intake of pigs although a high energy, low fibre diet can be used. In some countries outdoor sows are fitted with nose rings to prevent them from uprooting the grass. This reduces nutrient leaching of the land due to less rooting. In general, free-range pigs have a higher mortality compared to intensively housed pigs. Many factors can contribute to the death of the piglet including crushing, disease, heat stress and poor nutrition. With successful management, free-range pigs can have similar production to door pigs, although the growth rate of the litters is affected by season. Piglets grow quicker indoors during the cold season compared to outdoor systems. Pigs reared outdoors show calmer behaviour. Aggressive interactions during feeding are lower compared to indoor pigs while outdoor sows are more active than indoor sows. Outdoor pigs have a higher parasite burden, which increases the nutrient requirement for maintenance and reduces their feed utilization efficiency. Parasite infections in free-range pigs also risks the image of free-range pork as a clean and safe product. Diseases can be controlled to a certain degree by grazing management. Frequent rotation is required although most farmers are keeping their pigs for a longer period before rotating. The concept of using pasture species to minimise nematode infections in grazing pigs looks promising. Plants that can be grown locally and used as part of the normal feeding regime are most likely to be acceptable to farmers, particularly organic farmers. However, one of the key concerns from the public for free-range pig production system is the impact on the environment. In the past, the pigs were held in the same paddock at a high stocking rate, which resulted in damage to the vegetation, nutrient loading in the soil, nitrate leaching and gas emission. To avoid this, outdoor pigs should be integrated in the cropping pasture system, the stock should be mobile and stocking rate related to the amount of feed given to the animals.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.22 no.7
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• pp.897-903
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• 2012

Food allergies have become a serious health concern in the past two decades, especially in developed countries. Foods associated with allergies include vegetables, some fruits, shellfish, wheat, egg, chicken, and nuts. To describe the specific fundamentals, etiological factors, and clinical manifestations, we analyzed the different physical frequency on spleen index in sensitized and regular exercise-trained mice. We also conducted a proliferation assay of lymphocytes to OVA, ROS, ASAS, and we determined the cytokine levels. Female BALB/c mice were bred in the animal laboratory of the P and D university under controlled conditions ($22{\pm}2^{\circ}C$, RH 45-55%, and a 12-hour photoperiod). The animals were 6 weeks old at the start of the study and were fed a standard commercial chow diet from 09:00 to 15:00 for the 8-week study period. All animals had access to distilled deionized water ad libitum. They were divided into four groups: a control group (S; control sensitized, n=25), a low-frequency training group (F2, n=25), a mid-frequency training group (F3, n=25), and a high-frequency training group (F5, n=25) following the treatment of exercise time per week. The results were as follows: The mice spleen index showed the highest grade in the F5 group compared with the other groups; this level showed in an exercise frequency-dependent manner. In the proliferation assay of OVA, the F5 group showed the highest grade compared with the other groups; this level was also showed in an exercise frequency-dependent manner. Peritoneal ROS and ASAS showed a statistically significant increase in the F5 group and decreased in the F2 group compared with the S group. However, there were no significant differences in the F3 group. The highest level of IL-4 was found in the F5 group compared with the other groups. However, the highest level of INF-${\gamma}$ was in the F2 group. The results suggest that FDEIA is positively correlated with the frequency of exercise due to the direct effect of physical exercise on peritoneal ROS and the cytokine profile. Further research is needed on the specific mechanism underlying the combined effects of exercise intensity and frequency on physical-induced allergy anaphylaxis.