• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.7
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• pp.3385-3388
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• 2012

Objective: The study was conducted to assess biochemical profiles in premenopausal and postmenopausal women having breast cancer. Materials and Methods: A hospital based case control study was carried out at Manipal Teaching Hospital (MTH), Pokhara, Nepal. The analysed variables were age, metabolic profile including total cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL-C, LDL-C, blood sugar, insulin concentration, C-peptide, HbA1c and selenium. Descriptive statistics and testing of hypothesis were used for the analysis using EPI INFO and SPSS 16 software. Results: In premenopausal women, significant differences were noted for total cholesterol (P value <0.001), triglycerides (P value 0.002), HbA1c level (P value <0.001), insulin concentration (P value 0.030), C-peptide concentration (P value 0.001), and selenium (P value <0.001) between cases and controls. Insignificant results were found for HDL-C (P value 0.749), LDL-C (P value 0.933), blood sugar (P value 0.59) and BMI (P value 0.746). Similarly, significant difference in total cholesterol (P value <0.001), triglycerides (P value 0.001), LDL-C (P value <0.001), HDL-C (P value 0.025), blood sugar (P value <0.001), insulin concentration (P value <0.001), c-peptide concentration (P value <0.001), HbA1c level (P value <0.001) and selenium (P value <0.001) were observed for postmenopausal patients and controls. Conclusions: Assessing metabolic changes and their management may be important for control of breast cancer and increased survival.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.92-101
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• 2002

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether nutrition counseling and exercise could be beneficial to patients with acquired cardiac disease (ACD). Twenty-five ACD patients participated in this program, which was based on guidelines for serum lipid management. To measure the effects of the nutrition counseling and exercise education, outpatients with ACD were selected and randomly assigned to three groups which were a control group, a diet only group and a diet and exercise group. Nine diet only group patients and nine diet and exercise group patients received nutrition counseling or nutrition counseling and exercise education every other week. Patients who served as a non counseled control group did not receive any counseling during the same study period. Various markers of disease risk, including lifestyle, anthropometric indices, eating behaviors, and serum lipid levels were measured before and after the program. The program lasted up to 12 weeks, depending on the individuals involved. Database management and statistical analyses were performed using SPSS 7.5 software. As a result, BMI and %IBW showed decreased trends in the diet only and the diet and exercise group. Food habit scores were significantly increased in the diet only group and the frequency of saturated fatty acid, dietary cholesterol, salty food and instant food intake were decreased in the diet only group. Comparisons of the daily nutrient intakes of the groups showed their total calorie, carbohydrate and protein intake had decreased significantly, and also the total fat and dietary cholesterol intake had decreased in the nutrition counseling group. The serum total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol decreased after 12 weeks in the nutrition counseling group. The diet and exercise group showed less interest in diet control than the diet only group. These results show that a well-planned nutrition counseling program would reduce the risks of ACD and cardiovascular disease and help to care such diseases.

• Speech Sciences
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.43-53
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• 2007

The purpose of this study was to observe the effect of eating a raw egg by professional or nonprofessional voice users on their voice quality and the duration of the effect. 20 professional voice users and 20 nonprofessional voice users participated in the experiment and they had gone through stroboscopy to have no vocal or laryngeal diseases. The voice exam was performed three times: before eating a raw egg (1st period), right after eating it (2nd period), and 10 minutes later (3rd period). By using Multi-dimensional Voice Program which is a software of Computerized Speech Lab 4500 as a voice analysis instrument, the authors checked the F0, Jitter, Shimmer, Noise to harmonic ratio (NHR), and Voice Range Profile (VRP). Results showed as follows: Firstly, vocal hygiene was good in 57.5% of the total subjects and was poor in 42.5%. 40% of professional voice users and 75% of nonprofessional voice users hand good quality. 77.5% of the total subjects had the vocal fatigue while 22.5% of the subjects did not. 95% of the professional voice users and 60% of nonprofessional voice users complained the vocal fatigue. 60% of the total subjects reported a subjective vocal symptom. 65.0% professional voice users and 70.0% of nonprofessional voice users reported a voice symptom. From the results above, we suggest that eating a raw egg may lead to imporve voice quality of the professional voice users.

• Journal of Biosystems Engineering
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.33-40
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• 2013

Purpose: The goal of this study was to build an accurate digital factory that evaluates the performance of a factory using computer simulation. To achieve this goal, we evaluated the effect of worker-related variables on production in a simulation model using comparative analysis of two cases. Methods: The overall work process and worker-related variables were determined and used to build a simulation model. Siemens PLM Software's Plant Simulation was used to build a simulation model. Also, two simulation models were built, where the only difference was the use of the worker-related variable, and the total daily production analyzed and compared in terms of the individual process. Additionally, worker efficiency was evaluated based on worker analysis. Results: When the daily production of the two models were compared, a 0.16% error rate was observed for the model where the worker-related variables were applied and error rate was approximately 5.35% for the model where the worker-related variables were not applied. In addition, the production in the individual processes showed lower error rate in the model that included the worker-related variables than the model where the worker-related variables were not used. Also, among the total of 22 workers, only three workers satisfied the IFRS (International Financial Reporting Standards) suggested worker capacity rate (90%). Conclusions: In the daily total production and individual process production, the model that included the worker-related variables produced results that were closer to the real production values. This result indicates the importance of worker elements as input variables, in regards to building accurate simulation models. Also, as suggested in this study, the model that included the worker-related variables can be utilized to analyze in more detail actual production. The results from this study are expected to be utilized to improve the work process and worker efficiency.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.107-121
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• 2021

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to analyze the efficacy of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) injections specified in the clinical guideline for COVID-19 by conducting a meta-analysis of viral pneumonia data. Methods: TCM injections data on viral pneumonia were collected until July 31, 2021. CNKI, PubMed, EMBASE, and the Cochrane electronic database were used to collect the clinical data. "COVID-19," "Viral pneumonia," "Tanreqing," "Xiyanping," "Reduning," "Xingnaojing," "Xuebijing," "Shenmai," "Shengmai," and "Shenfu" were used as keywords. All data collected were mainly about TCM injections and viral pneumonia. Furthermore, studies that included results such as the total effective rate, cough disappearance time, antipyretic time, lung rhomboid disappearance time, and adverse drug reaction were collected for the meta-analysis to identify the efficacy of TCM injections. However, data unrelated to TCM injections specified in the clinical guidelines for COVID-19 or viral pneumonia were excluded. The quality of included RCTs was assessed by the Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool, and Review Manager 5.3 software was used to conduct the meta-analysis. Results: A total of 18 studies with 1540 patients were included in this study. The results of the meta-analysis showed that the total effective rate OR = 4.61 (95% CI 2.92, 7.25, p = 1.00/ I² = 0%); the cough disappearance time: SMD -1.23 (-1.37, -1.09, p < 0.00001/ I² = 94%); the antipyretic time: SMD -1.26 (-1.40, -1.11, p < 0.00001/ I²=94%); lung rhomboid disappearance time: SMD -1.17 (-1.33, -1.02, p < 0.00001/ I² = 89%); and adverse drug reaction was OR 0.36 (95% CI 0.20, 0.64, p = 0.21/ I² = 30%). From the results, the treatment group (TCM injection) showed better efficacy than the control group (Western medication). Conclusion: Xiyanping, Reduning, and Tanreqing injections may yield benefits as COVID-19 treatments. However, clinical trials on TCM injections for the treatment of COVID-19 are still lacking. More high-quality clinical trials are still required.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.292-297
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• 2018

Background: Gelada baboon is one of the endemic mammals of Ethiopia residing in different highlands. The population structure and habitat use of gelada baboon in Wof-Washa particularly Gosh Meda area was investigated from September 2016 to August 2017. Total counting method was used to collect data on the population status by dividing the study area in to four blocks, namely, Kundi, Arbgebeya, Goshber, and Goshmeda. Data were analyzed using SPSS software. The age-sex category and the numbers of geladas found within the different blocks were analyzed using one-way ANOVA, and paired t test was also used to analyze the pair wise comparison of the different age and sex categories during both dry and wet seasons. Results: A total of 435 and 471 gelada baboons were counted during the wet and dry seasons, respectively. The maximum group size consisted of 178 individuals whereas the minimum group size contained 53 individuals. Out of the total population adult females accounted for 54.7% in the wet and 54.56% in the dry seasons. There was a significant difference among the age-sex categories in both the wet ($F_{2432}=630$, P < 0.05) and dry ($F_{2468}=696.6$, P < 0.05) seasons. The male to female ratio was 1:5.7 during wet season and 1:5.8 during dry season. So that the population will have a better chance to increase in the study area. Conclusion: Wof-Washa Forest could be a good site for eco-tourism activities due to the presence of endemic animals and its scenic beauty. However, the quality of the habitat is decreasing due to livestock grazing, agricultural expansion, and invasion of exotic plants species. Therefore, appropriate conservation measures should be implemented to conserve gelada baboon in particular and other wildlife resources in general.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.62 no.1
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• pp.83-89
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• 2019

Objective : This study is a retrospective cost-benefit analysis of cervical anterior interbody fusion and cervical artificial disc replacement, which are the main surgical methods to treat degenerative cervical disc disease. Methods : We analyzed 156 patients who underwent anterior cervical disc fusion and cervical artificial disc replacement from January 1, 2008 to December 31, 2009, diagnosed with degenerative cervical disc disorder. In this study, the costs and benefits were analyzed by using quality adjusted life year (QALY) as the outcome index for patients undergoing surgery, and a Markov model was used for the analysis. Only direct medical costs were included in the analysis; indirect medical costs were excluded. Data were analyzed with TreeAge Pro $2015^{TM}$ (TreeAge Software, Inc, Williamstown, MA, USA). Results : Patients who underwent cervical anterior fusion had a total cost of KRW 2501807/USD 2357 over 5 years and obtained a utility of 3.72 QALY. Patients who underwent cervical artificial disc replacement received 4.18 QALY for a total of KRW 3685949/USD 3473 over 5 years. The cumulative cost-effectiveness ratio of cervical spine replacement surgery was KRW 2549511/QALY (USD 2402/QALY), which was lower than the general Korean payment standard. Conclusion : Both cervical anterior fusion and cervical artificial disc replacement are cost-effective treatments for patients with degenerative cervical disc disease. Cervical artificial disc replacement may be an effective alternative to obtain more benefits.

• Korea Journal of Hospital Management
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.1-14
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• 2023

Purposes: It is very important to establish a clinical data warehouse based on a common data model to offset the different data characteristics of each medical institution and for drug surveillance. This study attempted to establish a clinical data warehouse for Dankook university hospital for drug surveillance, and to derive the main items necessary for development. Methodology/Approach: This study extracted the electronic medical record data of Dankook university hospital tracked for 9 years from 2013 (2013.01.01. to 2021.12.31) to build a clinical data warehouse. The extracted data was converted into the Observational Medical Outcomes Partnership Common Data Model (Version 5.4). Data term mapping was performed using the electronic medical record data of Dankook university hospital and the standard term mapping guide. To verify the clinical data warehouse, the use of angiotensin receptor blockers and the incidence of liver toxicity were analyzed, and the results were compared with the analysis of hospital raw data. Findings: This study used a total of 670,933 data from electronic medical records for the Dankook university clinical data warehouse. Excluding the number of overlapping cases among the total number of cases, the target data was mapped into standard terms. Diagnosis (100% of total cases), drug (92.1%), and measurement (94.5%) were standardized. For treatment and surgery, the insurance EDI (electronic data interchange) code was used as it is. Extraction, conversion and loading were completed. R language-based conversion and loading software for the process was developed, and clinical data warehouse construction was completed through data verification. Practical Implications: In this study, a clinical data warehouse for Dankook university hospitals based on a common data model supporting drug surveillance research was established and verified. The results of this study provide guidelines for institutions that want to build a clinical data warehouse in the future by deriving key points necessary for building a clinical data warehouse.

• The Journal of the Korea institute of electronic communication sciences
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.515-522
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• 2024

Energy consumption is steadily increasing, and buildings in particular account for more than 20% of the total energy consumption around the world. As an effort to cost-effectively manage the energy consumption of buildings, many research groups have recently focused on Smart Building Energy Management Systems (BEMS), which are deepening the research depth by applying artificial intelligence(AI). In this paper, we propose a reinforcement learning-based energy control method for smart energy buildings integrated with V2G station, which aims to reduce the total energy cost of the building. The results of performance evaluation based on the energy consumption data measured in the real-world building shows that the proposed method can gradually reduce the total energy costs of the building as the learning process progresses.

• Proceedings of the KSME Conference
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• 2007.05b
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• pp.2603-2608
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• 2007

Flows in the centrifugal compressor volute with circular cross section are numerically investigated. The computational grid for the calculation utilized a multi-block arrangement to form a butterfly grid and flow calculations are performed using commercial CFD software, CFX-TASCflow. The centrifugal compressor of this study has axial diffuser after radial diffuser because of the shape of inlet duct and installation constraints. Due to this feature the swirling flow pattern is different from the other investigations. The flow inside volute is very complex and three dimensional with strong vortex and recirculation through volute tongue. The calculation results show circumferential variations of the swirl and through flow velocity and pressure distribution. The mechanism deciding flow structure is explained by considering the force balance in volute cross section. And static pressure recovery and total pressure loss are estimated from the calculated results and compared with Japikse model.