• Animal Bioscience
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• v.36 no.10
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• pp.1546-1557
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• 2023

Objective: The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of extruded and unextruded feeding on the performance, milk composition, digestibility and ruminal fermentation of dairy cows through a meta-analysis. Methods: The database was compiled from 53 studies in Scopus and PubMed. The data were analyzed using a random effects model in OpenMEE software. Extruded feed was grouped as the experiment group while and the others as control group. The bias of publication in the main parameter of dairy performance was evaluated by a funnel plot. Results: The result showed that extruded feed enhanced the milk yield, dry matter and crude protein digestibility, butyrate and valerate acid production (p<0.05). Meanwhile, the extruded feed significantly decreased the milk fat and protein concentration (p<0.05). Also, the iso-butyrate and iso-valerate in unextruded feeding was significantly higher than the extruded feed (p<0.05). Conclusion: It was concluded from the meta-analysis that extruded feed effectively improved the milk production and milk lactose concentration, dry matter and protein digestibility, but not the milk fat and protein concentration.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.192-205
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• 2023

Objectives: Previous studies have evaluated the association between mercury exposure and obesity but have yielded mixed conclusions. The aim of this study was to systematically review and summarize scientific evidence regarding the association between mercury exposure and obesity in the human population. Methods: We conducted a systematic search of PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and Science Direct for articles related to mercury exposure and obesity. Meta-analyses of the highest and lowest categories of mercury levels were evaluated using a random effects model. Begg's test was used to detect publication bias. Results: A total of 9 articles were included. The pooled random effects odds ratio (OR) for mercury exposure and obesity of all 9 studies was 1.66 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.16-2.38). This positive association was evident in adults (OR: 1.61, 95% CI: 1.02-2.54) and among studies with Asian populations (OR: 2.00, 95% CI: 1.53-2.59), but not among those with North America/African populations (OR: 0.90, 95% CI: 0.50-1.65). Conclusions: The present meta-analysis identified a positive association between mercury exposure and obesity. These findings suggest that toxic environmental metals such as mercury may be an important risk factor for obesity along with dietary habits and lifestyles.

• Journal of Korean Biological Nursing Science
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.71-82
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• 2024

Purpose: This study systematically analyzed the impact of aromatherapy on pain in individuals with diabetes. Methods: A search was performed in seven electronic databases based on the PICO-SD (Population, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome, Study Design) framework. The population (P) of interest was individuals with diabetes, and the intervention (I) included aromatherapy targeting pain reduction. The comparison (C) consisted of control groups that received no intervention, another intervention, or usual care. The outcome (O) measured was pain. The quality of the selected literature was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute checklist. In MIX 2.0 Pro, the pooled overall effect of pain was calculated using Hedge's g and a random-effects model, and heterogeneity was calculated using the Q statistic and Higgin's I2 values. Meta-regression and exclusion sensitivity analyses were performed. Results: Five articles and seven studies were included, showing a significant pooled overall effect of aromatherapy on diabetes-related pain (Hedge's g = -1.83, 95% CI: -2.76 to -0.91). Meta-regression demonstrated that effectiveness in reducing pain was associated with studies conducted in West Asia, those with IRB approval, and those receiving funding. Additionally, interventions involving subjects under 60, lavender oil (vs. turpentine oil or blended oils), massage therapy (vs. topical application), fewer hours per session, and more repeated measurements (vs. pre/post measurements) were associated with pain reduction. Conclusion: Aromatherapy, especially with lavender oil, effectively manages diabetes-related pain. Short-duration massage application is also effective. A personalized selection of oil type and application method could optimize therapeutic outcomes for individuals with diabetes.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.37 no.7
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• pp.1185-1195
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• 2024

Objective: This meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the impact of wilted and unwilted silage on various parameters, such as nutrient content, fermentation quality, bacterial populations, and digestibility. Methods: Thirty-six studies from Scopus were included in the database and analyzed using a random effects model in OpenMEE software. The studies were grouped into two categories: wilting silage (experiment group) and non-wilting silage (control group). Publication bias was assessed using a fail-safe number. Results: The results showed that wilting before ensiling significantly increased the levels of dry matter, water-soluble carbohydrates, neutral detergent fiber, and acid detergent fiber, compared to non-wilting silage (p<0.05). However, wilting significantly decreased dry matter losses, lactic acid, acetic acid, butyric acid, and ammonia levels (p<0.05). The pH, crude protein, and ash contents remained unaffected by the wilting process. Additionally, the meta-analysis revealed no significant differences in bacterial populations, including lactic acid bacteria, yeast, and aerobic bacteria, or in vitro dry matter digestibility between the two groups (p>0.05). Conclusion: Wilting before ensiling significantly improved silage quality by increasing dry matter and water-soluble carbohydrates, as well as reducing dry matter losses, butyric acid, and ammonia. Importantly, wilting did not have a significant impact on pH, crude protein, or in vitro dry matter digestibility.

• Clinical Nutrition Research
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.130-138
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• 2024

Numerous studies have indicated that low levels of serum adiponectin are linked with the development of various chronic diseases. While some recent research has suggested that soy has a positive impact on serum adiponectin levels, the results are inconsistent. Therefore, we aim to conduct a thorough systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that investigate the effects of soy on serum adiponectin levels in adults. The search was conducted until March 2024 on PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library databases to identify RCTs that studied the effects of soy supplementation on serum adiponectin levels. A random-effects model was used to pool the weighted mean differences (WMDs). Ten and nine RCTs were selected for the systematic review and meta-analysis, respectively. After analyzing data from 9 eligible RCTs, it was found that soy supplementation did not significantly impact the concentrations of adiponectin (WMD = -0.24㎍/mL; 95% confidence interval, -1.56 to 1.09; p = 0.72). However, there was significant heterogeneity between the studies (I² = 89.8%, p < 0.001). Sensitivity analysis showed that overall estimates were not affected by the elimination of any study. We did not observe any evidence regarding publication bias. In conclusion, soy supplementation did not have a significant effect on adiponectin levels in adults. However, further RCTs are needed with longer intervention duration, higher doses, and studies conducted in different countries.

• KIPS Transactions on Software and Data Engineering
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• v.8 no.12
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• pp.499-506
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• 2019

An intelligent robot should decide its behavior accordingly to the dynamic changes in the environment and user's requirements by evaluating options to choose the best one for the current situation. Many intelligent robot systems that use the Procedural Reasoning System (PRS) accomplishes such task management functions by defining the priority functions in the task model and evaluating the priority functions of the applicable tasks in the current situation. The priority functions, however, are defined locally inside of the plan, which exhibits limitation for the tasks for multi-domain services because global contexts for overall prioritization are hard to be expressed in the local priority functions. Furthermore, since the prioritization functions are not defined as an explicit module, reuse or extension of the them for general context is limited. In order to remove such limitations, we propose a policy-based meta-planning for general task management for multi-domain services, which provides the ability to explicitly define the utility of a task in the meta-planning process and thus the ability to evaluate task priorities for general context combining the modular priority functions. The ontological specification of the model also enhances the scalability of the policy model. In the experiments, adaptive behavior of a robot according to the policy model are confirmed by observing the appropriate tasks are selected in dynamic service environments.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.231-236
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• 2013

Background: Published data regarding the association between xeroderma pigmentosum group D (XPD) Lys751Gln and Asp312Asn polymorphisms and gastric cancer susceptibility havew been inconclusive. This meta-analysis was therefore performed toobtain a more precise estimation of any relationship. Materials and Methods: A comprehensive literature search was conducted to identify all case-control studies of Lys751Gln and Asp312Asn polymorphisms and susceptibility to gastric cancer. Summary odds ratios (ORs) and its 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) were calculated using a random-effects model with the software STATA (version10.0). Results: A total of 12 case-control studies including 3,147 cases and 4,736 controls were included. Overall, no significant associations were found in some models (for Lys751Gln: Lys/Gln vs Lys/Lys: OR=1.144, 95% CI=0.851-1.541, Gln/Gln vs Lys/Lys: OR=1.215, 95% CI = 0.740-1.955, dominant model: OR=1.137, 95% CI=0.818-1.582; recessive model: OR=1.123, 95% CI=0.765-1.650; for Asp312Asn: Asp/Asn vs Asp/Asp: OR=1.180, 95% CI=0.646-2.154, dominant model: OR=1.380, 95% CI = 0.812-2.346), but significantly elevated susceptibility was found for Asp312Asn polymorphism in some models (Asn/Asn vs Asp/Asp: OR=2.045, 95% CI=1.254-3.335, recessive model: OR=1.805, 95% CI =1.219-2.672), for the additive model, the XPD Lys751Gln and Asp312Asn polymorphisms were not significantly associated with gastric cancer susceptibility. In stratified analyses, significantly elevated susceptibility was found for some models in the Chinese population. Conclusion: This meta-analysis suggested the XPD Asp312Asn polymorphism might be a potential biomarker of gastric cancer susceptibility in overall population, while both XPD Lys751Gln and Asp312Asn polymorphisms might be risk factors of gastric cancer susceptibility in Chinese.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.10
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• pp.5761-5767
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• 2013

The potential correlation of X-ray repair cross-complementing group 1 (XRCC1) Arg399Gln polymorphism with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) susceptibility is ambiguous. Taking account of inconsistent results of previous meta-analyses and new emerging literatures, we conducted a meta-analysis covering 15 case-control datasets to evaluate the relationship. Relevant studies from Medline, Embase and CNKI were retrieved. A fixed-effect model or a random-effect model, depending on between-study heterogeneity, were applied to estimate the association between XRCC1 polymorphism Arg399Gln and HCC risk with the results presented as odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs). In accordance with Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, 15 studies with data for 6,556 individuals were enrolled in this systematic review. For overall HCC,thr XRCC1 polymorphism Arg399Gln was significantly associated with HCC susceptibility in a homozygote model as well as in a dominant model (G/G vs. A/A, OR=1.253, p=0.028; G/G+A/G vs. A/A, OR= 1.281, p=0.047, respectively), but not in a heterozygote model (A/G vs. A/A, OR=1.271, p=0.066) or a recessive model (G/G vs. A/G + A/A, OR= 1.049, p=0.542). Similar results were also observed on stratification analysis by ethnicity (A/G vs. A/A, OR=1.357, p=0.025; G/G vs. A/A, OR=1.310, p=0.011; G/G+A/G vs. A/A, OR= 1.371, p=0.013). However, no potential contribution of XRCC1 Arg399Gln polymorphism to HCC susceptibility in HBV/HCV subgroups was identified. No publication bias was found in this study. In conclusion, the XRCC1 Arg399Gln polymorphism contributes to HCC susceptibility. Due to the lack of studies in Western countries, further large-sample and rigorous studies are needed to validate the findings.

• Journal of The Korean Association of Information Education
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.339-348
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• 2005

The trend of the computer education is shifting from problem-solving in the real world and using functions for it to behavioristic perspectives which encourage people to acquire the functions simply according to the applying programs of well-known companies. Thus, this research studies the computer instructional model which emphasizes the basic computer education and connections to the real world at the same time. In the constructivistic perspectives, this model emphasizes the learners activities, their using of meta-cognitive strategies to reflect their level of the lesson and collaborative-reflective learning of problem-solving. The research applied in the real computer skill education and according to the result of the research, I could find the experimental group got high level of learning achievement and this benefits to the high level group rather than low and middle group.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.12
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• pp.6343-6348
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• 2012

Objective: The NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1) rs1800566 polymorphism, leading to proline-toserine amino-acid and enzyme activity changes, has been implicated in bladder cancer risk, but individually published studies showed inconsistent results. We therefore here conducted a meta-analysis to summarize the possible association. Methods: A systematic literature search up to August 27, 2012 was carried out in PubMed, EMBASE and Wanfang databases, and the references of retrieved articles were screened. Crude odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were analyzed for homozygote contrast (TT vs. CC), additive model (T vs. C), dominant model (TT+CT vs. CC), and recessive model (TT vs. CC+CT) to assess the association using fixed- or random-effect models. Results: We identified 12 case-control studies including 3,041 cases and 3,128 controls for the present meta-analysis. Significant association between NQO1 rs1800566 genetic polymorphism and risk of bladder cancer was observed in the additive model (OR = 1.15, 95% CI = 1.01-1.30, p = 0.030). Moreover, in the subgroup analysis stratified by ethnicity, significant associations were observed in Asians (OR = 1.26, 95% CI = 1.08-1.47, p = 0.003 for T vs. C; OR = 1.68, 95% CI = 1.21-2.32, p = 0.002 for TT vs. CC; OR = 1.50, 95% CI = 1.13-1.98, p = 0.005 for TT vs. CT+CC) but not in Caucasians. Conclusions: The results suggest that NQO1 rs1800566 genetic polymorphism may contribute to bladder cancer development, especially in Asians.