Showing papers by "Chung-Ang University published in 2003"
TL;DR: The main finding is that unsubstantiated cases are at high risk for recidivism, in many cases as high a risk as substantiated cases.
Abstract: This article reports rates of recidivism among initially substantiated and initially unsubstantiated child maltreatment events to determine if substantiation status is associated with higher risk of recidivism. This is an important question given recent concerns that unsubstantiated cases may have as high or almost as high a risk of recidivism as do substantiated cases. The data are analyzed at both the victim level and the case level, divided by type of maltreatment, and followed for 4.5 years. The data used are administrative and combine a series of state databases with census data. Analyses are performed at the bivariate and multivariate (Cox proportional hazards model) levels. The main finding is that unsubstantiated cases are at high risk for recidivism, in many cases as high a risk as substantiated cases. Implications for practice, policy, and research are presented with a focus on the importance of providing preventative services to unsubstantiated cases.
265 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors examined effects of structural and perceptual variables on attitude toward websites and found that perceived interactivity and involvement with the subject of a site and the subdimension of perceived interaction were the best predictors of attitude.
Abstract: This study examined effects of structural and perceptual variables on attitude toward websites. Data were collected from 311 consumers who reviewed four hotel websites. The sites were structurally different in terms of having high versus low number of features and also in terms of informational versus transformational creative strategies. Involvement and perceived interactivity were the two perceptual variables examined in the study. Involvement with the subject of a site and the subdimension of perceived interactivity that measured level of engagement were the best predictors of attitude. Positive attitudes were also associated with sites that took advantage of web-specific features such as virtual tours and online reservations systems. A key implication of this study is the need for advertisers and researchers to reconsider advertising in the context of the web. Radio and television required advertisers to adjust to the new concepts of buying and selling time instead of space and of incorporating aural and visual appeals in messages. The web demands that advertisers adjust to a new medium that is not bound by either space or time and that has the technical capability to involve and engage the consumer.This study was funded in part by grants from the University of Tennessee Scholarly Activities Research Initiative Fund (SARIF) and the Department of Advertising and College of Communication at the University of Tennessee.
219 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors investigated the impact of the construction of a new subway line (Line 5) in Seoul on nearby residential property values and found that distance from a Line 5 subway station had a statistically significant effect on residential prices only prior to the line's opening.
178 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, an exergoeconomic model was used to visualize the cost formation process and the productive interaction between components of a 500MW combined cycle plant, where mass and energy conservation laws were applied to each component of the system, and quantitative balances of the exergy and exergetic cost for each component were carefully considered.
160 citations
TL;DR: It is demonstrated that expression of HIF-1α and vascular endothelial growth factor was increased in the liver of HBx-transgenic mice, suggesting that the cross-talk between HBx and hypoxia-inducible factor-1β may lead to transcriptional activation of Hif-1 α target genes, which play a critical role in hepatocarcinogenesis.
153 citations
TL;DR: The mean blood haemoglobin level of hookworm-infected children was not lower than that of children not infected with hookworm, suggesting that nutritional factors are more important than parasite infection per se.
Abstract: In order to investigate the epidemiological situation of intestinal parasite infections in Laos, parasitological surveys were carried out on a national scale including 17 provinces and the Vientiane Municipality. A total of 29,846 stool specimens were collected from primary schoolchildren from May 2000 to June 2002 and examined once with the cellophane thick smear technique. The cumulative egg positive rate for intestinal helminths was 61.9%. By species, the rate for Ascaris lumbricoides was 34.9%, hookworm 19.1%, Trichuris trichiura 25.8%, Opisthorchis viverrini 10.9%, Taenia spp. 0.6% and Hymenolepis spp. 0.2%. The northern mountainous regions such as Phongsaly, Huaphan or Saysomboune Province showed a higher prevalence (over 70%) of soil- transmitted helminths. The regions along the Mekong River such as Khammuane, Saravane or Savannakhet Province showed a higher prevalence (over 20%) of fish-borne parasites. On the other hand, Schistosoma mansoni eggs were detected in 1.7% of schoolchildren only in Champassak Province, a previously endemic area. The highest prevalence was noted in Phongsaly Province (96.0%) and the lowest in Bolikhamxay Province (27.5%). An additional small-scale survey by cellophane anal swab detected Enterobius vermicularis eggs in 35.7% of 451 schoolchildren aged 6-8 years in Khammuane, Vientiane, Champassak Province and the Vientiane Municipality. Meanwhile, the mean blood haemoglobin level of hookworm-infected children was not lower than that of children not infected with hookworm, suggesting that nutritional factors are more important than parasite infection per se. Nevertheless, the above results indicate that a nationwide parasite control project is necessary to reduce possible morbidity due to parasitic diseases in the country.
150 citations
TL;DR: EC appears to be helpful in protecting pancreatic islets against exposure to STZ in both in vivo and in vitro systems.
Abstract: Introduction Green tea catechins have diverse pharmacological effects such as anticarcinogenic and antioxidant activities. Aim To study the protective effects of green tea (-)-epicatechin (EC) against the toxic effects of streptozotocin (STZ), a selective beta cell toxin, on pancreatic islets in vivo and in vitro. Methodology Rats were randomly divided into four groups: control, EC (30 mg/kg)-treated, STZ (60 mg/kg)-treated, and EC plus STZ (same doses; EC+STZ)-treated rats. EC was administered twice a day for 6 days, and a single injection of STZ was used. In EC+STZ-treated rats, EC was administered 6 hours prior to STZ since posttreatment with EC had no beneficial effects on fully developed diabetes in our unpublished study. Insulin and insulin mRNA were detected by immunohistochemical analysis and in situ hybridization, respectively, and physiologic parameters including blood glucose concentration were measured daily. Following isolation of the islets, insulin release, nitrite levels, and islet morphology were observed in the four groups: control, EC (0.8 mM)-treated, STZ (5 mM)-treated, and EC+STZ (same doses)-treated islets. Results In EC+STZ-treated rats, hyperglycemia and weight loss were not observed and islet morphology was well preserved compared with STZ-treated rats. Compared with STZ treatment alone, insulin release was increased and nitrite production was decreased in EC+STZ-treated islets. Conclusion EC appears to be helpful in protecting pancreatic islets against exposure to STZ in both in vivo and in vitro systems.
141 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, a genetic algorithm is used to perform the discrete optimization of reinforced concrete plane frames subject to combinations of gravity loads and lateral loads, and the developed genetic algorithm obtained an optimal design for reinforced concrete planes.
Abstract: A genetic algorithm is used to perform the discrete optimization of reinforced concrete plane frames subject to combinations of gravity loads and lateral loads. Difficulties in finding optimum sections from a semi-infinite set of member sizes and reinforcement arrangements are alleviated by constructing data sets, which contain a finite number of sectional properties of beams and columns in a practical range. Construction practice is also implemented by linking columns and beams by group and by considering “connectivity” between columns located in the same column line. It is shown that the developed genetic algorithm obtained an optimal design for reinforced concrete plane frames.
137 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the conductivity changes with repeated fabric extension were investigated to improve the properties of conductive electrode pad material used for electrotherapy when it is subjected to various movement of human body.
Abstract: Changes in conductivity with repeated fabric extension were investigated to improve the properties of conductive electrode pad material used for electrotherapy when it is subjected to various movement of human body. Highly stretchable and conductive fabrics were prepared by in situ chemical polymerization of polypyrrole on nylon–spandex stretch fabric in aqueous solutions with 0.5 M pyrrole, 1.165 M FeCl3, and 0.165 M benzenesulfonic acid at 5°C for 1 h. Performance of prepared stretchable conductive fabric was evaluated in terms of conductivity changes as a function of tensile strain, repeated extension, and current application time. As the degree of extension increased, the conductivity increased and leveled off when the fabric was subjected to 60% extension. The number of fiber contacts in nylon–spandex fabric with electrode increased as the applied extension increased. However, the conductivity of the composite decreased under excessive extension over 60% since the intrinsic elasticity of fabric became gradually reduced. Generally, the fabric conductivity decreased as the number of extension cycles increased. However, the fabric conductivity was well maintained after repeated extension over 30 cycles at 40% extension. In addition, it was found that the effect of charging during the electrotherapy treatment on a current flow through prepared electrode pad was negligible. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 88: 1225–1229, 2003
137 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the deformation of bias extension and biaxial specimens is measured from images of a central gauge section and the forces applied to the material are resolved into forces along and parallel to the tow directions.
Abstract: Three test methods, uniaxial bias extension, biaxial and picture frame tests are used to characterise the shear behaviour of dry woven fabric during draping. The deformation of the bias extension and biaxial specimens is measured from images of a central gauge section. The forces applied to the material are resolved into forces along and parallel to the tow directions. The deformation of the material in the bias extension and biaxial tests is found to behave in a manner which is reasonably well described by a pin-jointed net analysis. There is negligible change in the shear resistance of the material during biaxial loading, while a slight increase in shear resistance is observed in the picture frame tests. Microscopic examination of the tow architecture [Compos Sci Technol 63 (2003) 99], which shows a significantly smaller crimp amplitude for picture frame tests than for the bias extension and biaxial tests, supports the suggestion raised by Harrison et al. [Proceedings of the 10th European Conference on Composite Materials, 2002], that the increase in resistance in the picture frame tests is associated with an increase in tow cross-over force generated by large loads along the tows.
121 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors evaluate whether the ACI equation for deep beams is applicable to high-strength concrete deep beams with reinforcement ratio less than 1% and to consider size effects.
TL;DR: In this article, the authors investigated the structures of copper nanowires encapsulated in carbon nanotubes using a structural optimization process applied to the steepest descent method and showed that the stable morphology of the cylindrical ultrathin copper nanowsires in carbon-nanotubes is multishell packs consisting of coaxial cylinrical shells.
Abstract: We have investigated the structures of copper nanowires encapsulated in carbon nanotubes using a structural optimization process applied to the steepest descent method. The results showed that the stable morphology of the cylindrical ultrathin copper nanowires in carbon nanotubes is multishell packs consisting of coaxial cylindrical shells. As the diameter of carbon nanotubes increased, the encapsulated copper nanowires have the face-centered-cubic structure as the bulk. The circular rolling of a triangular network can explain the structures of ultrathin multishell copper nanowires encapsulated in carbon nanotubes.
TL;DR: Supplementation of microbial phytase at a level of 300 U per kg diet of laying hens can improve egg production, decrease broken and soft egg production rate, and P excretion.
TL;DR: In Korean patients infected with HBV genotype C, precore mutation occurred almost invariably along with HBeAg seroconversion and core promoter TA mutation was frequent irrespective of viral replication levels or disease severity.
TL;DR: O- CM substitution enhanced lipase-degraded chitosan's antimicrobial activity without reducing its solubility, and O-CM chITosan derived from degraded chitOSan was more effective than O- CM chitosaurs derived from native chitposan.
TL;DR: In this article, the fire extinguishing time and the temperature fields in the enclosed compartment of a water mist fire suppression system were measured by K-type thermocouples for various fire sources.
TL;DR: In this paper, the role of cognitive and affective variables play an important role in models of psychological adjustment in Korean and European American college students, and the results of path analyses examined a model of affectivity as a mediator of the link between outcome expectancies and psychological adjustment provided additional evidence for cultural differences.
TL;DR: In this article, the effect of sustaining load at strengthening on the flexural behavior of strengthened reinforced concrete (RC) beams was examined, and a theoretical model for flexural behaviour of a strengthened RC beam was also developed based on the displacement controlled nonlinear finite element method.
Abstract: To examine the effect of sustaining load at strengthening on the flexural behavior of strengthened reinforced concrete (RC) beams, 6 beams strengthened with carbon fiber-reinforced polymer laminates subjected to different sustaining loads were tested, in addition to 2 control beams without strengthening. The main experimental parameters included different levels of sustaining load at the time of strengthening, and reinforcement ratios. A theoretical model for flexural behavior of a strengthened RC beam was also developed based on the displacement controlled nonlinear finite element method in order to explain experimental results in quantitative terms. Parametric studies for the strengthened RC beam at different loading stages were performed using the model. Results of the experiments and model predictions showed that sustaining load levels at the time of strengthening have more influence on deflections of beams at yielding and at ultimate stage than on the ultimate strength of the beam.
TL;DR: This paper presents a hierarchical realization of an enhanced active shape model for color video tracking and studies the performance of both hierarchical and nonhierarchical implementations in the RGB, YUV, and HSI color spaces.
Patent•
19 Nov 2003TL;DR: In this paper, a downlink signal configuring method and device, and synchronization and cell search method and devices using the same in a mobile communication system are described, where the pilot subcarriers are distributively arranged with respect to time and frequency axes.
Abstract: Disclosed is a downlink signal configuring method and device, and synchronization and cell search method and device using the same in a mobile communication system. A downlink frame has plural symbols into which pilot subcarriers are distributively arranged with respect to time and frequency axes. Initial symbol synchronization and initial frequency synchronization are estimated by using a position at which autocorrelation of a cyclic prefix of a downlink signal and a valid symbol of the downlink is maximized, and cell search and integer-times frequency synchronization are estimated by using pilot subcarriers included in the estimated symbol. Fine symbol synchronization, fine frequency synchronization, and downlink frame synchronization is estimated by using an estimated cell search result. Downlink frequency and time tracking is performed, cell tracking is performed by using a position set of pilot subcarriers inserted into the downlink frame, fine symbol synchronization tracking and fine frequency synchronization tracking are repeated by using the pilot subcarriers to perform the frequency and time tracking of the downlink frame.
TL;DR: This new cross-coupling reaction can be used for the creative elimination of alkyloxysulfonyl groups from aromatic compounds and for the preparation of unsymmetric terphenyls and oligophenyls.
Abstract: The nickel-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions of neopentyl arenesulfonates with arylmagnesium bromides, involving nucleophilic aromatic substitution of alkyloxysulfonyl groups by aryl nucleophiles, take place in high yields. Optimal efficiencies are obtained by adding 3 + 2 equiv of the Grignard reagent to a mixture of dppfNiCl2 and the sulfonate in refluxing THF. Neopentyl arenesulfonates are useful sources of the electrophilic aryl groups in these transition metal-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions. Aryl sulfonates are inappropriate due to their ambident reactivity under the reaction conditions. This new cross-coupling reaction can be used for the creative elimination of alkyloxysulfonyl groups from aromatic compounds and for the preparation of unsymmetric terphenyls and oligophenyls.
TL;DR: Based on the rpoB sequences determined in the present study, multiplex PCR generating either B. anthracis-specific amplicons or cap DNA in a virulence plasmid could be used for the rapid differential detection and identification of virulent B. Anthracis strains.
Abstract: Bacillus anthracis is a large, gram-positive, aerobic, spore-forming bacillus. Its endospores do not divide, have no measurable metabolism, and are resistant to drying, heat, UV light, gamma radiation, and many disinfectants. In some cases, spores can remain dormant for decades. B. anthracis causes a zoonotic disease, anthrax. It also causes acute and often lethal disease in humans, such as cutaneous, intestinal, and pulmonary anthrax. For a long time, this species has attracted attention because of its hardiness, dormancy, and thus its potential use as a biological weapon (12, 13). In October 2001, B. anthracis spores were used to attack human populations in Florida, New Jersey, New York, and Washington, D.C. (12), which heightened public awareness and concern about anthrax.
B. anthracis infections are confirmed mainly by conventional microbiological methods, i.e., Gram staining, capsule staining, colony morphology, and biochemical characteristics (4, 18). However, because of its clinical importance and its implication concerning public security, suspected specimens are usually referred to public health laboratories for definitive identification, epidemiologic study, and susceptibility testing (28). Therefore, not only precise but also rapid identification of isolated Bacillus species is needed. In addition, it is also important to know whether detected or isolated B. anthracis strains contain virulence plasmids or not because the virulence of B. anthracis is related to encapsulating and toxin-encoding plasmids.
Given this situation, genotype analysis would seem to be most appropriate for the precise differential identification of virulent B. anthracis. However, genotype analysis is not straightforward for several reasons. Phylogenetically, B. anthracis is considered a member of the “B. cereus group,” which also includes B. cereus, B. thuringiensis, and B. mycoides (18). Moreover, B. anthracis is genotypically differentiated from its close relatives, B. cereus and B. thuringiensis, only by the presence of toxin-encoding plasmids (19), and the genomes of these three species show high levels of similarity. For example, this group share almost identical 16S ribosomal DNA sequences (1), and for this reason were suggested to be one species based on multilocus enzyme electrophoresis (MLEE) (11). Moreover, the genome of B. anthracis has 11 rRNA operons, which show sequence polymorphisms at 10 positions (27). Analysis of other chromosomal genes such as gyrB (9, 35) and the 16S-23S ribosomal intergenic spacer (2), which are usually used for bacterial genotyping or phylogenetic analysis also failed to discriminate B. anthracis from B. cereus and B. thuringiensis. Furthermore, it seems to be even more difficult to differentiate them by plasmid gene analysis, because of plasmid transfer among the closest species. For example, genes in the plasmid of B. anthracis have been successfully expressed in other bacteria (30) and been reported in other Bacillus species (22). It is important to note that pXO2 can be lost naturally (32). Due to the natural competence of B. thuringiensis and B. cereus, the horizontal transfer of plasmids has been reported (8, 26, 35). The findings presented above show why the detection and identification of B. anthracis from clinical or environmental samples must be performed precisely and why B. anthracis-specific chromosomal markers should be developed to differentiate B. anthracis from its closest relatives (23).
The rpoB gene, encoding the RNA polymerase β-subunit, has been used as a marker for bacterial identification and for phylogenetic study (5, 6, 14, 16, 17, 20, 25). Recently, the rpoB gene was used for the real-time PCR detection of B. anthracis (23); however, false-positive results were observed. According to Ellerbrok et al. (7), B. cereus and B. megaterium strains were also detected by real-time rpoB PCR and, therefore, a more reliable detection and identification method is required for B. anthracis chromosomal DNA.
In the present study, partial rpoB sequences (318 bp), which are located downstream of those used for real-time PCR (23) and which contain a region related to rifampin resistance, Rif r (21, 33), were compared for the genotyping of B. anthracis, B. cereus, B. thuringiensis, B. mycoides, and B. megaterium. Subsequently, we undertook to identify five Korean isolates based on their rpoB sequences and to develop a simple multiplex PCR method that can be used for the rapid and differential detection of virulent B. anthracis.
TL;DR: A novel podand fluoroionophore/gamma-cyclodextrin (Gamma-CyD) complex sensor that shows markedly high selectivity for lead (Pb2+) ion in water is reported.
TL;DR: It is demonstrated that TGase 2‐dependent inhibition of HPV E7 function correlates with the presence of the polyamination site, suggesting that the inability ofTGase 2 to inactivate HPV16 E7 could explain the high prevalence of HPV16 in cervical cancer.
Abstract: Transglutaminase 2 (TGase 2) is one of a family of enzymes that catalyze protein modification through the incorporation of polyamines into substrates or the formation of protein crosslinks. However, the physiological roles of TGase 2 are largely unknown. To elucidate the functions of TGase 2, we have searched for its interacting proteins. Here we show that TGase 2 interacts with E7 oncoprotein of human papillomavirus type 18 (HPV18) in vitro and in vivo. TGase 2 incorporates polyamines into a conserved glutamine residue in the zinc-binding domain of HPV18 E7 protein. This modification mediates the inhibition of E7's Rb binding ability. In contrast, TGase 2 does not affect HPV16 E7, due to absence of a glutamine residue at this polyamination site. Using E7 mutants, we demonstrate that TGase 2-dependent inhibition of HPV E7 function correlates with the presence of the polyamination site. Our results indicate that TGase 2 is an important cellular interfering factor and define a novel host-virus interaction, suggesting that the inability of TGase 2 to inactivate HPV16 E7 could explain the high prevalence of HPV16 in cervical cancer.
TL;DR: It is concluded that the OSTA risk tool performed well in this sample of postmenopausal Korean women, similar to previous results in other Asian women.
TL;DR: The authors presented new estimates of worklife expectancy and introduced a new methodology for estimating the transition probabilities necessary to derive the worklife estimates, which incorporated significantly more information into the labor supply decision and resulted in more precise estimates of life expectancy.
TL;DR: It is suggested that PP has a protective effect on hepatic injury, and that its effect may be explained by inhibition of phase I enzymes and induction of phase II enzymes.
Abstract: Propolis (PP) is a sticky substance that is collected from plants by honeybees. The purpose of this study was to investigate the protective effects of PP on hepatotoxicity induced by acetaminophen (AA, paracetamol) and the mechanism of its hepatoprotective effect. In rat hepatocyte culture, pretreatment with PP (1, 10, 100, 200 and 400 µg/mL, 24 h) significantly decreased the cytotoxicity of AA (0.5 mm) in a dose-dependent manner. In mice, pretreatment with PP (10 and 25 mg/kg, p.o., 7 days) also decreased the mortality and the incidence and severity of hepatic necrosis induced by AA (400 mg/kg, i.p.). After treatment with PP for 7 days, the hepatic enzyme activities of cytochrome P450 monooxygenases (P450s), UDP-glucuronyltransferase, phenolsulphotransferase (PST), glutathione S-transferase (GST) were measured in both rats and mice. In rats, PP (50 and 100 mg/kg, p.o.) decreased the activity of P4502E1, but significantly increased the activities of GST and PST. On the other hand, in mice treated with PP (10 and 25 mg/kg, p.o.), the activities of P4501A2, 2B1, 3A4 and 2E1 were dramatically inhibited, and the activity of PST was significantly enhanced. These results suggest that PP has a protective effect on hepatic injury, and that its effect may be explained by inhibition of phase I enzymes and induction of phase II enzymes. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
TL;DR: This paper presents a practical application of fuzzy logic to the temperature control of glass melting furnace for television picture tube and proposes a hybrid controller that is implemented in Samsung-Corning Company to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed control algorithm.
Abstract: This paper presents a practical application of fuzzy logic to the temperature control of glass melting furnace for television picture tube. Because of the complexity and nonlinearity, temperature control of glass melting furnace is still delegated to human operators. Though the overall characteristics of glass melting furnace are complex and nonlinear, one part of the furnace characteristics can be modeled as a linear system. The linear part of the furnace dynamics is modeled with a first-order-plus-dead-time (FOPDT) system and a proportional integral (PI) controller is applied to the FOPDT model. The remaining complex and nonlinear part of the furnace dynamics is covered by the fuzzy system, i.e., rules of human experts. The PI controller and fuzzy system are combined in cascade. The PI controller is applied to maintain the left-right symmetric operation of the furnace, and a linear regression is used for the temperature trend to determine input to the fuzzy system in order to overcome the high frequency disturbance. The proposed hybrid controller is implemented in Samsung-Corning Company to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed control algorithm.
TL;DR: The results suggested that diclofenac might bind to sodium channels with a greater affinity when they are in the inactivated state than when they is in the resting state, which would contribute to their analgesic activity in addition to their inhibition of cyclooxygenase.
TL;DR: Southern blot analysis indicated that the tapetum-specific BcA9 promoter and DTx-A gene were successfully integrated into the genome of the transgenic cabbage.
Abstract: The anther (tapetum)-specific gene BcA9 was isolated from Chinese cabbage, Brassica campestris L. ssp. pekinensis cv. Jangwon, using the Arabidopsis tapetum-specific A9 gene as a probe. The DNA and amino acid sequences of the coding region of the BcA9 gene showed high homology with A9 genes from Arabidopsis and B. napus. However, the DNA sequences of the 5' noncoding (promoter) region were different, except for the sequence from -281 to -89. To test the specific activity of this promoter, a plant expression vector, pGR011, was constructed by fusing the BcA9 promoter and the cytotoxic diphtheria toxin A-chain (DTx-A) gene. Several transgenic plants from cabbage, B. oleracea ssp. capitata, were obtained by way of Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. Southern blot analysis indicated that the tapetum-specific BcA9 promoter and DTx-A gene were successfully integrated into the genome of the transgenic cabbage. Under the control of the BcA9 promoter, expression of the cytotoxic DTx-A gene in the tapetal cells of the transgenic plants resulted in male sterile cabbages. Microscopic examination revealed that pollen grains in anthers of the male sterile cabbages had not developed normally, but the vegetative growth and phenotype showed no difference compared to wild-type plants.