• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.18
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• pp.8107-8112
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• 2016

Background and Aims: Colorectal cancer is the second most frequent cancer in Malaysia. We aimed to assess the validity and reliability of the Malaysian Chinese version of European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) Quality of Life Questionnaire core (QLQ-C30) in patients with colorectal cancer. Materials and Methods: Translated versions of the QLQ-C30 were obtained from the EORTC. A cross sectional study design was used to obtain data from patients receiving treatment at two teaching hospitals in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The Malaysian Chinese version of QLQ-C30 was self-administered in 96 patients while the Karnofsky Performance Scales (KPS) was generated by attending surgeons. Statistical analysis included reliability, convergent, discriminate validity, and known-groups comparisons. Statistical significance was based on p value ${\leq}0.05$. Results: The internal consistencies of the Malaysian Chinese version were acceptable [Cronbach's alpha (${\alpha}{\geq}0.70$)] in the global health status/overall quality of life (GHS/QOL), functioning scales except cognitive scale (${\alpha}{\leq}0.32$) in all levels of analysis, and social/family functioning scale (${\alpha}=0.63$) in patients without a stoma. All questionnaire items fulfilled the criteria for convergent and discriminant validity except question number 5, with correlation with role (r = 0.62) and social/family (r = 0.41) functioning higher than with physical functioning scales (r = 0.34). The test-retest coefficients in the GHS/QOL, functioning scales and in most of the symptoms scales were moderate to high (r = 0.58 to 1.00). Patients with a stoma reported statistically significant lower physical functioning (p=0.015), social/family functioning (p=0.013), and higher constipation (p=0.010) and financial difficulty (p=0.037) compared to patients without stoma. There was no significant difference between patients with high and low KPS scores. Conclusions: Malaysian Chinese version of the QLQ-C30 is a valid and reliable measure of HRQOL in patients with colorectal cancer.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.18
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• pp.8391-8396
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• 2016

Thailand is becoming an aging society, this presenting as a serious problem situation especially regarding health. Chronic diseases found frequently in the elderly may be related to dietary intake and life style. Surin province has been reported as a risk area for liver fluke with a high incidence of cholangiocarcinma especially in the elderly. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the nutritional status and associated factors among elderly in Surin province, northeast of Thailand. A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 405 people aged 60 years and above, between September 2012 and July 2014. The participants were selected through a randomized systematic sampling method and completed a pre-designed questionnaire with general information, food recorded, weight, height, waist circumference, and behavior regarding to food consume related to liver fluke infection. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Spearman's rank correlation coefficients. The majority of participants was female (63.5%), age between 60-70 years old (75.6%), with elementary school education (96.6%), living with their (78.9%), and having underlying diseases (38.3%). Carbohydrate (95.3%) was need to improve the consumption. The participants demonstrated under-nutrition (24.4%), over-nutrition (16.4%), and obesity (15.4%). Elderly had a waist circumference as the higher than normal level (34.0%). Gender, female, age 71-80 years old, elementary school and underlying diseases were significantly associated with poor nutritional status. The majority of them had a high knowledge (43.0%), moderate attitude (44.4%), and moderate practice (46.2%) regarding food consumption related to liver fluke infection. In conclusion, these findings data indicated that elderly age group often have an under- or over-nutritional status. Carbohydrate consumption needs to be improved. Some elderly show behavior regarding food consumption that is related to liver fluke infection hat needs to be improved, so that health education pertaining good nutrition is required.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.61-66
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• 2017

The aim of this study is to investigate the characteristics of portal dosimetry in comparison with the MapCHECK2 measurments. In this study, a total of 65 treatment plans including both volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) and intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) were retrospectively selected and analyzed (45 VMAT plans and 20 IMRT plans). A total of 4 types of linac models (VitalBeam, Trilogy, Clinac 21EXS, and Clianc iX) were used for the comparison between portal dosimetry and the MapCHECK2 measurements. The VMAT plans were delivered with two VitalBeam linacs (VitalBeam1 and VitalBeam2) and one Trilogy while the IMRT plans were delivered with one Clinac 21EXS and one Clinacl iX. The global gamma passing rates of portal dosimetry and the MapCHECK2 measurements were analyzed with a gamma criterion of 3%/3 mm for IMRT while those were analyzed with a gamma criterion of 2%/2 mm for VMAT. Spearman's correlation coefficients (r) were calculated between the gamma passing rates of portal dosimetry and those of the MapCHECK2 measurements. For VMAT, the gamma passing rates of portal dosimetry with the VitalBeam1, VitalBeam2, and Trilogy were $97.3%{\pm}3.5%$, $97.1%{\pm}3.4%$, and $97.5%{\pm}1.9%$, respectively. Those of the MapCHECK2 measurements were $96.8%{\pm}2.5%$, $96.3%{\pm}2.7%$, and $97.4%{\pm}1.3%$, respectively. For IMRT, the gamma passing rates of portal dosimetry with Clinac 21EXS and Clinac iX were $99.7%{\pm}0.3%$ and $99.8%{\pm}0.2%$, respectively. Those of the MapCHECK2 measurements were $96.5%{\pm}3.3%$ and $97.7%{\pm}3.2%$, respectively. Except for the result with the Trilogy, no correlations were observed between the gamma passing rates of portal dosimetry and those of the MapCHECK2 measurements. Therefore, both the MapCHECK2 measurements and portal dosimetry can be used as an alternative to each other for patient-specific QA for both IMRT and VMAT.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.26 no.12
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• pp.1659-1664
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• 2013

The objectives of this study were to investigate color patterns of shell and mantle edge pigmentation of a Pacific oyster, C. gigas, and to estimate variance components of the two colors. A sample of 240 F0 oysters was collected from six aquaculture farms in Tongyeong, Korea to measure shell color and mantle edge pigmentation. Among the F0s, male and female individuals with black (white) shell and black (white) mantle edge were selected and mated to generate three F1 full-sib black (white) cross families (N = 265). Two and four F2 cross families (N = 286) were also produced from black and white F1 selected individuals, respectively. Variance component estimates due to residuals and families within color were obtained using SAS PROC VARCOMP procedures to estimate heritability of shell and mantle edge pigmentation. In the F0 generation, about 29% (11%) had black (white) color for both shell and mantle edge. However, in the F1 and F2 black (white) cross families, 75% (67%) and 100% (100%) of oysters had black (white) shell colors, and 59% (23%) and 79% (55%) had black (white) mantle edge, respectively. Spearman correlation coefficients between shell and mantle edge color were 0.25, 0.74, and 0.92 in F0, F1, and F2 generations, respectively, indicating that, with generations of selection process, an individual with black (white) shell color is more likely to have black (white) mantle edge pigmentation. This suggests that shell color could be a good indicator trait for mantle edge pigmentation if selection of both the colors is implemented for a couple of generations. Estimates of heritability were 0.41 and 0.77 for shell color and 0.27 and 0.08 for mantle edge pigmentation in the F1 and F2 generations, respectively, indicating that, in general, significant proportions of phenotypic variations for the shell and mantle edge colors are explained by genetic variations between individuals. These results suggest that the two color traits are inheritable and correlated, enabling effective selection on shell and mantle edge color.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.108-115
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• 2013

This study was conducted to suggest a model to calculate the overall heat transfer coefficient of single layer covering for various greenhouse conditions. There was a strong correlation between cover surface temperature and inside air temperature of greenhouse. The equations to calculate the convective and radiative heat transfer coefficients proposed by Kittas were best fitted for calculation of the overall heat transfer coefficient. Because the coefficient of linear regression between the calculated and measured cover surface temperature was founded to 0.98, the slope of the straight line is 1.009 and the intercept is 0.001, the calculation model of overall heat transfer coefficient proposed by this study is acceptable. The convective heat transfer between the inner cover surface and the inside air was greater than the radiative heat transfer, and the difference increased as the wind speed rose. The convective heat transfer between the outer cover surface and the outside air was less than the radiative heat transfer for the low wind speed, but greater than for the high wind speed. The outer cover convective heat flux increased proportion to the inner cover convective heat flux linearly. The overall heat transfer coefficient increased but the cover surface temperature decreased as the wind speed increased, and the regression function was founded to be logarithmic and power function, respectively.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.19 no.6
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• pp.405-413
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• 2018

The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of SNS addiction tendency, depression, and communication skill among university students. Subjects were 200 associate nursing students in Korea. The data were collected using a self-reporting questionnaire from October 11 to November 24, 2016. Data were analyzed by descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, LSD test, Pearson's correlation coefficients, and multiple regression analysis using the SPSS/WIN 23.0 program. The levels of SNS addiction tendency were dependent on age (t=2.47, p=.044), connection SNS time (F=10.20, p<.001), and place of SNS use (t=2.54, p=.012). SNS addiction tendency was significantly correlated with depression. Higher SNS addiction was associated with higher rates of depression. SNS addiction tendency was not significantly correlated with communication skill in nursing students. Influential factors that affect SNS addiction tendency were depression (${\beta}=.265$, p<.001) and SNS usage time (${\beta}=.265$, p<.001), which explains about 15.5% of the variance. The results of this study indicate that nursing interventions are necessary to improve SNS addiction tendency, and early screening of nursing students is needed to develop health promotion programs for the vulnerable.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.449-456
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• 2011

Eighteen different biometric traits in 407 Kankrej cows from their breeding zone, i.e. Palanpur district of Gujarat, India, were recorded and analyzed by factor analysis to explain body conformation. The averages of body length, height at withers, height at shoulder, height at knee, heart girth, paunch girth, face length, face width, horn length, horn diameter, distance between horns, ear length, ear width, neck length, neck diameter, tail length with switch, tail length without switch and distance between hip bones were $123.44{\pm}0.37$, $124.49{\pm}0.28$, $94.68{\pm}0.30$, $38.2{\pm}0.14$, $162.56{\pm}0.56$, $178.95{\pm}0.70$, $44.09{\pm}0.10$, $15.91{\pm}0.05$, $42.47{\pm}0.53$, $26.07{\pm}0.19$, $13.34{\pm}0.08$, $31.24{\pm}0.12$, $16.10{\pm}0.05$, $50.63{\pm}0.18$, $73.21{\pm}0.32$, $111.62{\pm}0.53$, $89.34{\pm}0.34$ and $17.28{\pm}0.10\;cm$, respectively. The correlation coefficients between different traits ranged from -0.806 (horn diameter and distance between horns) to 0.815 (heart girth and paunch girth). Most of the correlations were positive and significant. Factor analysis with promax rotation with power 3 revealed three factors which explained about 66.02% of the total variation. Factor 1 described the cow body and explained 38.89% of total variation. The second factor described the front view/face of the cow and explained 19.68% of total variation. The third factor described the back of the cow and explained 7.44% of total variation. It was necessary to include some more variables for factor 3 to obtain a reliable estimate of the back view of the cow. The lower communities shown for distance between horns, horn diameter, ear width and neck diameter indicated that these traits did not contribute effectively to explaining body conformation and can be dropped from recording, whereas all other traits are important and needed to explain body conformation in Kankrej cows. The result suggests that principal component analysis (PCA) could be used in breeding programs with a drastic reduction in the number of biometric traits to be recorded to explain body conformation.

• The korean journal of orthodontics
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.96-102
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• 2014

Objective: A recent study suggested that rs6504340, a polymorphism within the homeobox B (HOXB) gene cluster, is associated with the susceptibility for malocclusions in Europeans. The resulting malocclusions require orthodontic treatment. The aim of this study was to investigate the association of rs6504340 and other dentition-implicated polymorphisms with dental and occlusal traits in Korean and Japanese populations. Methods: The study participants included 223 unrelated Koreans from the Busan area and 256 unrelated Japanese individuals from the Tokyo metropolitan area. DNA samples were extracted from saliva specimens. Genotyping for rs6504340 and four single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that have been shown to be associated with the timing of first tooth eruption and the number of teeth at 1 year of age (rs10506525, rs1956529, rs9674544, and rs8079702) was performed using TaqMan assays. The Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need (IOTN), overjet, overbite, arch length discrepancy, crown sizes, and length and width of the dental arches were measured. Spearman's correlation coefficients were calculated to evaluate relationships between rs6504340 and these dental/occlusal traits. Results: We evaluated the aesthetic components and dental health components of the IOTN in the Korean and Japanese populations and found that neither rs6504340 nor the other four SNPs showed any association with dental and occlusal traits in these East Asian populations. Conclusions: These negative results suggest that further research is needed to identify the genetic determinants of malocclusions in order to reach a consensus.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.69 no.1
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• pp.1-5
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• 1985

Growth characters such as height, DBH, crown width, branch length and branch diameter were measured from 23 clones of plus trees of Pinus koraiensis. The results were as follows; 1) Differences between the largest and smallest clones were amounted to 41% in height, 81% in DBH, 50% in crown width, 55% in branch length and 83% in branch diameter. 2) There were significant differences between clones in every growth characters and correlation coefficients between growth characters were positive and significant ($r=0.418^*{\sim}0.917^{**}$). 3) The broad sense heritabilities were 0.46 for height, 0.45 for DBH, 0.28 for crown width, 0.26 for branch length and 0.18 for branch diameter. 4) The genetic gains predicted for each characters were ranged from 4.1% to 11.1%, when selecting the best 3 out of 23 clones.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.115-122
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• 2015

A standard air flow generator system was developed to generate air flows of various levels simultaneously applied to two different air flow transducer modules. Axes of two identical standard syringes for spirometer calibration were connected with each other and driven by a servo-motor. Linear displacement transducer was also connected to the syringe axis to accurately acquire the volume change signal. The user can select either sinusoidal or square waveform of volume change and manually input any volume as well as maximal flow rate levels ranging 0~3 l and 0~15 l/s, respectively. Various volume and flow levels were input to operate the system, then the volume signal was acquired followed by numerical differentiation to obtain the air flow signal. The measured volumes and maximal air flow rates were compared with the user input data. The relative errors between the user-input and the measured stroke volumes were all within 0.5%, demonstrating very accurate driving of the system. In case of the maximal flow rate, relatively large error was observed when the syringe was driven very fast within a very short time duration. However, except for these few data, most measured flow rates revealed relative errors of approximately 2%. When the measure and user-input stroke volume and maximal flow rate data were analyzed by linear regression analysis, respectively, the correlation coefficients were satisfactorily higher than 0.99 (p < 0.0001). These results demonstrate that the servo-motor controls the syringes with enough accuracy to generate standard air flows. Therefore, the present system would be very much practical for calibration process as well as performance evaluation and comparison of two different air flow transducer modules.