• KIPS Transactions on Computer and Communication Systems
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• v.11 no.11
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• pp.403-410
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• 2022

Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) created on the basis of blockchain have their own unique value, so they cannot be forged or exchanged with other tokens or coins. Using these characteristics, NFTs can be issued to digital assets such as images, videos, artworks, game characters, and items to claim ownership of digital assets among many users and objects in cyberspace, as well as proving the original. However, interest in NFTs exploded from the beginning of 2020, causing a lot of load on the blockchain network, and as a result, users are experiencing problems such as delays in computational processing or very large fees in the mining process. Additionally, all actions of users are stored in the blockchain, and digital assets are stored in a blockchain-based distributed file storage system, which may unnecessarily expose the personal information of users who do not want to identify themselves on the Internet. In this paper, we propose an NFT platform using cloud computing, access gate, conversion table, and cloud ID to improve usability and privacy problems that occur in existing system. For performance comparison between local and cloud systems, we measured the gas used for smart contract deployment and NFT-issued transaction. As a result, even though the cloud system used the same experimental environment and parameters, it saved about 3.75% of gas for smart contract deployment and about 4.6% for NFT-generated transaction, confirming that the cloud system can handle computations more efficiently than the local system.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.19 no.5
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• pp.441-448
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• 2006

11-nor-9-carboxy-${\Delta}^9$-tetrahydrocannabinol (THCCOOH) is the major metabolite of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) which is the primary psychoactive component of marijuana. It is also the target analyte for the discrimination marijuana use. A method using solid-phase extraction (SPE) and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) was developed for the determination of THCCOOH in human urine. Urine samples (3 mL) were extracted by SPE column with a cation exchange cartridge after basic hydrolysis. The eluents were then evaporated, derivatized, and injected into the GC/MS. The limits of detection (LOD) and quantitation (LOQ) were 0.4 and 1.2 ng/mL, respectively. The response was linear with a correlation coefficient of 0.999 within the concentration range of 1.2 (LLE 1.3)~50.0 ng/mL. The precision and accuracy were stable within 1.20% and the recovery was 83.6~90.7%. The recovery of SPE method was lower than that of liquid-liquid extraction (LLE), but there were no apparent differences in LOD, LOQ, precision and accuracy between the two methods. While SPE method is used as a very effective and rapid procedure for sample pretreatment, and clean extracts, LLE method was not suitable for the extraction procedure of THCCOOH in urine. The applicability of the method was proven by analyzing a urine samples from a marijuana abusers.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.32 no.7
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• pp.637-647
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• 1999

Background: Ischemia-reperfusion injury is one of the major contributing causes of early graft failure in lung transplantation. It has been suggested that triiodothyronine (T3) may ameliorate ischemia-reperfusion injury to various organs in vivo and in vitro. Predicting its beneficial effect for ischemic lung injury, we set out to demonstrate it by administering T3 into the in situ canine ischemia-reperfusion model. Material and Method: Sixteen adult mongrel dogs were randomly allocated into group A and B. T3 $(3.6\mug/kg)$ was administered before the initiation of single lung ischemia in group B, whereas the same amount of saline was administered in group A. Ischemia was induced in the left lung by clamping the left hilum for 100 minutes. After reperfusion, various hemodynamic parameters and blood gases were analyzed for 4 hours while intermittently clamping the right hilum in order to allow observation of the injured left lung function. Result: Arterial oxygen partial pressure $(PaO_2)$ decreased 30 minutes after reperfusion and recovered gradually thereafter in both groups. In group B the decrease of $PaO_2$ was less marked than in group A. The recovery of $PaO_2$ was faster in group B than in group A. The differences between the two groups were statistically significant from 30 minutes after reperfusion $(125\pm34$ mmHg and $252\pm44$ mmHg, p<0.05) until the end of the experiment $(178\pm42$mmHg and $330\pm37$ mmHg, p<0.05). The differences in the arterial carbon dioxide pressure, airway pressure and lung compliance showed no statistical significance. The malondialdehyde (MDA) level, measured from the tissue obtained 240 minutes after reperfusion, was lower in group B $(0.40\pm0.04\mu$M) than in group A $(0.53\pm0.05\mu$M, p<0.05). The ATP level of group B $(0.69\pm0.07\mu$M/g) was significantly higher than that of group A $(0.48\pm0.07\mu$M/g, p<0.05). The microscopic exami nation revealed varying degrees of injury such as perivascular neutrophil infiltration, capillary hemorrhage and interstitial congestion. There were no differences in the microscopic findings between the two groups. CONCLUSION T3 has beneficial effects on the ischemic canine lung injury including preservation of oxygenation capacity, less production of lipid peroxidation products and a higher level of tissue ATP. These results suggest that T3 is effective in pulmonary allograft preservation.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural and Forest Meteorology
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.307-316
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• 2010

Complex terrain refers to irregular surface properties of the earth that influence gradients in climate, lateral transfer of materials, landscape distribution in soils properties, habitat selection of organisms, and via human preferences, the patterning in development of land use. Complex terrain of mountainous areas represents ca. 20% of the Earth's terrestrial surface; and such regions provide fresh water to at least half of humankind. Most major river systems originate in such terrain, and their resources are often associated with socio-economic competition and political disputes. The goals of the TERRECO-IRTG focus on building a bridge between ecosystem understanding in complex terrain and spatial assessments of ecosystem performance with respect to derived ecosystem services. More specifically, a coordinated assessment framework will be developed from landscape to regional scale applications to quantify trade-offs and will be applied to determine how shifts in climate and land use in complex terrain influence naturally derived ecosystem services. Within the scope of TERRECO, the abiotic and biotic studies of water yield and quality, production and biodiversity, soil processing of materials and trace gas emissions in complex terrain are merged. There is a need to quantitatively understand 1) the ecosystem services derived in regions of complex terrain, 2) the process regulation occurred to maintain those services, and 3) the sensitivities defining thresholds critical in stability of these systems. The TERRECO-IRTG is dedicated to joint study of ecosystems in complex terrain from landscape to regional scales. Our objectives are to reveal the spatial patterns in driving variables of essential ecosystem processes involved in ecosystem services of complex terrain region and hence, to evaluate the resulting ecosystem services, and further to provide new tools for understanding and managing such areas.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.123-134
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• 1993

Background: Tissue-type plasminogen activator is a physiologic activator, which has high affinity for fibrin and is activated by fibrin. Because of these properties, t-PA has the potential to induce effective thrombolysis without producing a systemic lytic state. In practice, however, therapeutically efficacious doses of t-PA has been associated with the development of a systemic lytic state. As experience with t-PA has accumulated, it has suggested that the fibrin selectivity is influenced by the dose and duration of t-PA infusion, and many studies have performed in an attempt to optimize the duration of t-PA regimen. Methods: This study was designed to assess the thrombolytic efficacy of t-PA and the differences of two dosing regimens of t-PA (infusion of 1 mg/kg t-PA over 15 or 180 minutes) in a canine model of pulmonary embolism, induced by injection of radioactive autologous blood clots. By continuously counting over both lung fields with a external gamma counter, we correlated rate and extent of pulmonary thrombolysis with corresponding pulmonary hemodynamics in addition to the gas analyses of arterial and mixed venous blood. Results: 1) While total clot lysis was similar ($36.2{\pm}3.3%$ and $39.6{\pm}2.3%$ respectively, p>0.05) when t-PA was infused over 15 or 180 minutes, the rate of lysis during infusion was markedly increased with the shorter infusion ($81.4{\pm}16.8%/hr$ vs $37.3{\pm}2.4%/hr$, p<0.05). 2) The duration of thrombolysis was $63.3{\pm}22.2$ minutes although t-PA was administered over 15 minutes, and it was only $148.5{\pm}14.0$ minutes in case of the infusion over 180 minutes (p<0.05). 3) The increased rate of thrombolysis with the shorter infusion was accompanied by a faster amelioration of cardiopulmonary impairment from pulmonary embolism (p<0.05). Conclusion: It is concluded that the shorter (15 minutes) infusion of t-PA is superior to the longer (180 minutes) infusion when the dose is equal, in consideration of the faster improvement in cardiopulmonary impairment from pulmonary embolism.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.44 no.5
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• pp.1040-1050
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• 1997

Pulmonary rehabilitation has been known to improve dyspnea and exercise tolerance in patients with chronic lung disease, although it does not improve pulmonary function. The mechanism of this improvement is not clearly explained till now; however some authors suggested that the improvement in the skeletal muscle metabolism after the rehabilitation could be a possible mechanism. The metabolc changes in skeletal muscle in patients with COPD are characterized by impaired oxidative phosphorylation which causes early activation of anaerobic glycolysis and excess lactate production with exercise. In order to evaluate the change in the skeletal muscle metabolism as a possible cause of the improvement in the exercise tolerance after the rehabilitation, noninvasive $^{31}P$ magnetic resonance spectroscopy(MRS) of the forearm flexor muscle was performed before and after the exercise training in nine patients with chronic lung disease who have undertaken intensive pulmonary rehabilitation for 6 weeks. 31p MRS was studied during the sustained isometric contraction of the dominant forearm flexor muscles up to the exhaustion state and the recovery period. Maximal voluntary contraction(MVC) force of the muscle was measured before the isometric exercise, and then 30% of MVC force was constantly loaded to each patient during the isometric exercise. After the exercise training, exercise endurance of upper and lower extremities and 6 minute walking distance were significantly increased(p<0.05). There were no differences of baseline intracellular pH (pHi) and inorganic phosphate/phosphocreatine(Pi/PCr). After rehabilitation pHi at the exercise and the exhaustion state showed a significant increase($6.91{\pm}0.1$ to $6.99{\pm}0.1$ and $6.76{\pm}0.2$ to $6.84{\pm}0.2$ respectively, p<0.05). Pi/PCr at the exercise and the recovery rate of pHi and Pi/PCr did not show significant differences. These results suggest that the delayed intracellular acidosis of skeletal muscle may contribute to the improvement of exercise endurance after pulmonary rehabilitation.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.372-378
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• 1994

Background: Pressure support ventilation(PSV) is a new form of mechanical ventilatory support that assists spontaneous inspiraory effort of an intubated patient with a clinician-selected amount of positive airway pressure. Low level pressure support during inspiration can overcome the resistive component of inspiratory work imposed by an endotracheal tube. However the clinical efficacy of PSV as a weaning method has not been established yet. Object: The aim of study was to evaluate the efficacy of PSV when it is added to intermittent mandatory ventilation(IMV) in facilitating weaning precess compaired to IMV mode alone. Method: When the subject patients became clinically stable with their arterial blood gas analysis in acceptable range, they underwent weaning process either by IMV alone or by IMV plus PSV. The level of pressure support was held constant throught the weaning period. For the patients who required mechanical ventilation for less than 72 hr, 2h weaning trial was performed with IMV rate starting from 6/min. For the patients who required mechanical ventilation more than 72 hr, 7 hr weaning trial was performed with IMV rate starting from 8/min. For the patients who failed three consecutive trials of weaning, retrial of weaning was attempted over 3 days with IMV rate starting from 8/min. Clinical characteristics, APACHE II score and nutritional status were compared. For all patients, heart rate, mean blood pressure and respiratory rate were mornitored for 48 hrs after weaning trial started. Results: The total number of weaning trial was 37 in 23 patients(18 by IMV, 19 by IMV+PSV). Total ventilation time, APACHE II score and nutritional status were not statistically different between the two groups. The weaning success rate were not statistically different(38.3% by IMV, 42.1% by IMV+PSV) and the changes of mean blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate during first 48 hours were not different between the two groups. Conclusion: Low level PSV when added to IMV for weaning trial does not seem to improve the success rate of weaning from mechanical ventilation. PSV at 10cm $H_2O$ did not induce significant physiologic changes during weaning process.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.5 no.5
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• pp.808-818
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• 1994

Effects of ceria additive on the activity and thermal aging behavior of supported Ru catalysts were investigated using Ru/${\gamma}$-$Al_2O_3$and Ru/$CeO_2$-${\gamma}$-$Al_2O_3$. The catalysts were characterized by $^{129}Xe$-NMR and $H_2$ chemisorption. The cataltic activity for conversion of CO, HC and $NO_x$ was measured using simulated automobile engine exhausts under lean, rich and stoichiometric conditions. For both fresh and aged catalysts, Ru/$CeO_2$-${\gamma}$-$Al_2O_3$ was more active than Ru/${\gamma}$-$Al_2O_3$ for all three pollutants. Results of $^{129}Xe$-NMR and $H_2$ chemisorption indicated that sintering of Ru particles occurred to the same extent for both catalysts during the thermal aging process. After thermal aging at 673K, however, the catalytic activity of the aged Ru/$CeO_2$-${\gamma}$-$Al_2O_3$ was substantially higher than that of the fresh one, while the activity of Ru/${\gamma}$-$Al_2O_3$ decreased after the thermal aging. This finding may suggest new active sites were created during the thermal aging, probably in the vicinity of the interface between Ru and Ce. For more quantitative investigation of the effect of a cation such as Ce on the thermal aging of Ru metal particles, Ru catalysts supported on cation-exchanged Y-zeolites were used as the model catalysts. The results indicated that when Ba, Ca, La, Y or Ce was used for the cation exchange, the exchanged cation did not affect the thermal aging behavior of Ru in Y-zeolite, as evidenced by $^{129}Xe$-NMR and EXAFS.

• Horticultural Science & Technology
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• v.30 no.5
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• pp.484-492
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• 2012

The present study aimed to investigate the effect of static magnetic field (SMF) on the growth and physiological characteristics of common indoor plant species. Five foliage plant species, Spathiphyllum spp., Ardisia pusilla DC., Syngonium podophyllum, Peperomia pereskiifolia, and Pilea cadierei were potted into plastic pot equipped with round type anisotropic sintered NdFeB permanent magnet inside the pot. The surface magnetic flux density of each magnet was 3,500 G. After 6 months of growth period, the biomass accumulations of Spathiphyllum, A. pusilla, and P. cadierei under SMF were statistically higher than those of controls. Tissue water content also increased under the influence of SMF in most species. The photosynthetic rate of Spathiphyllum under SMF significantly increased but other species showed no significant difference compared with control. Although there was no significant increase in the photosynthetic rates of A. pusilla, and P. cadierei, they showed remarkable increase in total fresh weight under SMF. This suggests that the demand of assimilates for normal metabolism could be decreased under magnetic influence and thereby biomass accumulation could be more favored. But this is not always true for all plant species because P. pereskiifolia in this experiment, showed no changes in both photosynthetic rate and biomass accumulation. Leaf nitrogen and chlorophyll contents were enhanced significantly in most plant species under influence of SMF. Chlorophyll a/b ratio also increased by SMF. Although there might be a limitation depending on plant species, these results suggest that long-term exposure to SMF might allow plant to have an enhanced acclimation capacity against environmental fluctuations and optimal application of SMF could increase the practical use of indoor plants such as an attempt to improve indoor air quality.