• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.53 no.4
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• pp.365-373
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• 2020

Biomonitoring Survey and Assessment Manual for lake ecosystem suggest zooplankton collection methods to compare relatively the number of species, population density, and community indices, taking into account the convenience of the field sampling according to the sites' water depth. In this study, the oblique towing and 20 m vertical towing methods presented in the manual were respectively compared with the whole water column-vertical towing and we analyzed the differences and characteristics of zooplankton community information gathered by each collection method. For community indices, there was no difference in the comparison of oblique/vertical towing methods in the shallow lake, but in the deep lake, the diversity and richness indices increased when vertically towing through whole water column rather than when limiting the towing depth to 20 m. In addition, the total zooplankton density collected by the oblique/20 m vertical towing methods was about three times higher than the whole water column-vertical towing method, which means that the density of zooplankton community can be overestimated depending on the collection methods. It appears to be results of differences in the zooplankton density by water layer arising from their vertical distribution and in filtered raw water quantity according to the towing depth/distance. Hence, for zooplankton community information to be used as a functional quantitative indicator representing the entire lake, it would be more appropriate to apply the whole water column-vertical towing method with considering the distribution of zooplankton density by depth and contribution rate of each water layer when converting total zooplankton density.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.252-256
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• 2005

Purpose: Thyroglobulin (Tg) is a valuable and sensitive tool as a marker for diagnosis and follow-up for several thyroid disorders, especially, in the follow-up of patients with differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC). Often, clinical decisions rely entirely on the serum Tg concentration. But the Tg assay is one of the most challenging laboratory measurements to perform accurately owing to antithyroglobulin antibody (Anti-Tg). In this study, we have compared the degree of Anti-Tg effects on the measurement of Tg between availale Tg measuring kits. Materials and Methods: Measurement of Tg levels for standard Tg solution was performed with two different kits commercially available (A/B kits) using immunoradiometric assay technique either with absence or presence of three different concentrations of Anti-Tg. Measurement of Tg for patient's serum was also performed with the same kits. Patient's serum samples were prepared with mixtures of a serum containing high Tg levels and a serum containg high Anti-Tg concentrations. Results: In the measurements of standard Tg solution, presence of Anti-Tg resulted in falsely lower Tg level by both A and B kits. Degree of Tg underestimation by h kit was more prominent than B kit. The degree of underestimation by B kit was trivial therefore clinically insignificant, but statistically significant. Addition of Anti-Tg to patient serum resulted in falsely lower Tg levels with only A kit. Conclusion: Tg level could be underestimated in the presence of anti-Tg. Anti-Tg effect on Tg measurement was variable according to assay kit used. Therefore, accuracy test must be performed for individual Tg-assay kit.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.27-32
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• 2020

Purpose Glomerular Filtration Rate(GFR) is an important indicator for evaluating renal function and monitoring the progress of renal disease. Currently, the method of measuring GFR in clinical trials by using serum creatinine value and ^99mTc-DTPA(diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid) renal dynamic scan is still useful. After the Gates method of formula was announced, when ^99mTc-DTPA Renal dynamic scan is taken, it is applied the GFR is measured using a gamma camera. The purpose of this paper is to measure the GFR by applying the Gates method of formula. It is according to effect activity and matrix size that is related in the GFR. Materials and Methods Data from 5 adult patients (patient age = 62 ± 5, 3 males, 2 females) who had been examined ^99mTc-DTPA Renal dynamic scan were analyzed. A dynamic image was obtained for 21 minutes after instantaneous injection of ^99mTc-DTPA 15 mCi into the patient's vein. To evaluate the glomerular filtration rate according to changes in activity and matrix size, total counts were measured after setting regions of interest in both kidneys and tissues in 2-3 minutes. The distance from detector to the table was maintained at 30cm, and the capacity of the pre-syringe (PR) was set to 15, 20, 25, 30 mCi, and each the capacity of post-syringe (PO) was 1, 5, 10, 15 mCi is set to evaluate the activity change. And then, each matrix size was changed to 32 × 32, 64 × 64, 128 × 128, 256 × 256, 512 × 512, and 1024 × 1024 to compare and to evaluate the values. Results As the activity increased in matrix size, the difference in GFR gradually decreased from 52.95% at the maximum to 16.67% at the minimum. The GFR value according to the change of matrix size was similar to 2.4%, 0.2%, 0.2% of difference when changing from 128 to 256, 256 to 512, and 512 to 1024, but 54.3% of difference when changing from 32 to 64 and 39.43% of difference when changing from 64 to 128. Finally, based on the presently used protocol, 256 × 256, PR 15 mCi and PO 1 mCi, the GFR value was the largest difference with 82% in PR 15 mCi and PO 1 mCi. conditions, and at the least difference is 0.2% in the conditions of PR 30 mCi and PO 15 mCi. Conclusion Through this paper, it was confirmed that when measuring the GFR using the gate method in the ^99mTc-DTPA renal dynamic scan. The GFR was affected by activity and matrix size changes. Therefore, it is considered that when taking the ^99mTc-DTPA renal dynamic scan, is should be careful by applying appropriate parameters when calculating GFR in the every hospital.

• Journal of Intelligence and Information Systems
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.1-33
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• 2019

The small and medium sized enterprises (hereinafter SMEs) are already at a competitive disadvantaged when compared to large companies with more abundant resources. Manufacturing SMEs not only need a lot of information needed for new product development for sustainable growth and survival, but also seek networking to overcome the limitations of resources, but they are faced with limitations due to their size limitations. In a new era in which connectivity increases the complexity and uncertainty of the business environment, SMEs are increasingly urged to find information and solve networking problems. In order to solve these problems, the government funded research institutes plays an important role and duty to solve the information asymmetry problem of SMEs. The purpose of this study is to identify the differentiating characteristics of SMEs that utilize the public information support infrastructure provided by SMEs to enhance the innovation capacity of SMEs, and how they contribute to corporate performance. We argue that we need an infrastructure for providing information support to SMEs as part of this effort to strengthen of the role of government funded institutions; in this study, we specifically identify the target of such a policy and furthermore empirically demonstrate the effects of such policy-based efforts. Our goal is to help establish the strategies for building the information supporting infrastructure. To achieve this purpose, we first classified the characteristics of SMEs that have been found to utilize the information supporting infrastructure provided by government funded institutions. This allows us to verify whether selection bias appears in the analyzed group, which helps us clarify the interpretative limits of our study results. Next, we performed mediator and moderator effect analysis for multiple variables to analyze the process through which the use of information supporting infrastructure led to an improvement in external networking capabilities and resulted in enhancing product competitiveness. This analysis helps identify the key factors we should focus on when offering indirect support to SMEs through the information supporting infrastructure, which in turn helps us more efficiently manage research related to SME supporting policies implemented by government funded institutions. The results of this study showed the following. First, SMEs that used the information supporting infrastructure were found to have a significant difference in size in comparison to domestic R&D SMEs, but on the other hand, there was no significant difference in the cluster analysis that considered various variables. Based on these findings, we confirmed that SMEs that use the information supporting infrastructure are superior in size, and had a relatively higher distribution of companies that transact to a greater degree with large companies, when compared to the SMEs composing the general group of SMEs. Also, we found that companies that already receive support from the information infrastructure have a high concentration of companies that need collaboration with government funded institution. Secondly, among the SMEs that use the information supporting infrastructure, we found that increasing external networking capabilities contributed to enhancing product competitiveness, and while this was no the effect of direct assistance, we also found that indirect contributions were made by increasing the open marketing capabilities: in other words, this was the result of an indirect-only mediator effect. Also, the number of times the company received additional support in this process through mentoring related to information utilization was found to have a mediated moderator effect on improving external networking capabilities and in turn strengthening product competitiveness. The results of this study provide several insights that will help establish policies. KISTI's information support infrastructure may lead to the conclusion that marketing is already well underway, but it intentionally supports groups that enable to achieve good performance. As a result, the government should provide clear priorities whether to support the companies in the underdevelopment or to aid better performance. Through our research, we have identified how public information infrastructure contributes to product competitiveness. Here, we can draw some policy implications. First, the public information support infrastructure should have the capability to enhance the ability to interact with or to find the expert that provides required information. Second, if the utilization of public information support (online) infrastructure is effective, it is not necessary to continuously provide informational mentoring, which is a parallel offline support. Rather, offline support such as mentoring should be used as an appropriate device for abnormal symptom monitoring. Third, it is required that SMEs should improve their ability to utilize, because the effect of enhancing networking capacity through public information support infrastructure and enhancing product competitiveness through such infrastructure appears in most types of companies rather than in specific SMEs.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.281-289
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• 2015

This study was conducted to examine the effects of a supplemented Chungkukjang diet on oxidative stress and antioxidant nutrients in Streptozotocin (STZ, 45 mg/kg of BW, IP injection)-induced diabetic rats. Diets that contained soybean Chungkukjang powder (SC), Yakkong Chungkukjang powder (YC), and Yakkong Chungkukjang powder with black food added (YCB) were administered to the STZ-induced diabetic rats for seven weeks. The increased lipid peroxide contents of their serum and liver were slightly controlled by providing them three types of Chungkukjang. The retinol level in the serum was 7.5 times higher in the STZ-induced diabetic group after the provision of YC. The total antioxidant capacity (TAC) level in the serum was higher in the STZ-induced diabetic group after the provision of YCB. Also, the retinol and tocopherol levels in the liver of the STZ-induced diabetic rats increased after they were provided YCB, and the decreased reduced glutathione (GSH) /oxidized glutathione (GSSG) level in their liver improved after they were fed a diet that contained YC. Moreover, the decreased anthocyanin level in the liver of the STZ-induced diabetic group improved after the provision of three types of Chungkukjang powder. These findings suggest that the Chungkukjang diet is a valuable food for the management of the health of diabetic patients and for the prevention of diabetic complications.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.311-317
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• 2009

This study was performed using animals to confirm the effect of tourmaline-ionized water (TIW) the properties of which were changed by tourmaline energy and electric discharge. In the ICR mice fed high-fat diet, body weight increasing rate of the TIW-treated group (Exp) was generally decreased and moreover exhibited significance at 11th week (P<0.05) compared with the control (Con) group fed distilled water, although water intake of the Exp group was lower than that of the Con group. In the ICR mice with $CCl_4$-induced hepatotoxicity, AST and ALT activities of the Exp group were not significant but showed some decreasing trend, and histological damage of liver was less compared with thatof the Con group. On the study of ethanol-induced hangovers in Sprague-Dawley rat, blood alcohol concentration was significantly decreased (P<0.01), activity of GST, antioxidant enzyme related to the alcohol metabolism, was increased in liver tissue (P<0.05), and AST and ALT show a tendency to be decreasedin the Exp group. These results suggest that drinking TIWhas not only some obesity preventing effect but also an alcohol detoxification effect and liver protecting effect in vivo. It is supposed due to a structural change of water cluster and a property which maintains the changed structure through tourmaline energy and electric discharge. Therefore, TIW has a potentiality to be developed as functional water with several beneficial effects as well as for daily drinking, but further study on the mechanism related with efficacy will be necessary.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.268-274
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• 2016

The purpose of this study was to investigate the immuno-stimulatory activity of the high-molecular-weight fraction (HMWF) of Cynanchum wilfordii (CW) extracts obtained by ultrafiltration in murine macrophage RAW 264.7 cells and to assess its immuno-stimulatory effect in mice. Ultrafiltration was performed with polyethersulfone membranes (30 kDa cutoff) in a cross-flow filtration system to obtain the HMWF of CW. The results showed that the HMWF increased the production of various cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$, interleukin-6, and nitric oxide in dose-ependent manners. In addition, HMWF treatment increased the relative spleen weight as well as splenocyte proliferation induced by concanavalin A or bacterial lipopolysaccharide in mice. Natural killer (NK) cell activity in the HMWF-treated group was significantly increased compared to that in the control group. These results suggest that the HMWF of CW can support the immune system through secretion of macrophage cytokines, thereby enhancing NK cell activity and murine splenocyte proliferation.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.46 no.8
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• pp.903-909
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• 2017

This study was conducted to develop Helianthus tuberosus (HT) juice mixed with dried bitter melon juice and assess its hypoglycemic effect in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. HT juice mixed with 5.0% dried bitter melon juice was used in this study. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into four groups (eight rats per group) and drunk each sample for 4 weeks: normal water [normal control (NC) group], STZ+normal water (STZ group), STZ+HT juice (HT group), STZ+HT juice mixed with 2.5% bitter melon juice (HT2.5 group), and STZ+HT juice mixed with 5.0% bitter melon juice (HT5.0 group). HT juice was diluted to 25% in distilled water and supplied to rats. Food intake, body weight gain, and food efficiency ratio were lower in the STZ group than in the NC group. HT, HT2.5, and HT5.0 groups showed higher parameters than the STZ groups. Water intakes were higher in the STZ group than in the NC group. After 3 weeks, HT, HT2.5, and HT5.0 groups showed lower parameters than the STZ group. After 1 week, blood glucose level of the STZ group ($476.7{\pm}22.8mg/dL$) was significantly higher than those of the HT group ($376.3{\pm}25.8mg/dL$), HT2.5 group ($405.2{\pm}35.1mg/dL$), and HT5.0 group ($342.8{\pm}29.7mg/dL$). After 4 weeks, blood glucose level of the STZ group were significantly higher than those of the HT, HT2.5, and HT5.0 group. Serum insulin levels of the HT group ($3.13{\pm}0.32ng/mL$), HT2.5 group ($3.40{\pm}0.23ng/mL$), and HT5.0 group ($3.48{\pm}0.43ng/mL$) were higher than that of the STZ group ($2.72{\pm}0.53ng/mL$). These results indicate that H. tuberosus juice mixed with dried bitter melon juice helps prevent or attenuate progression of diabetes in rats with STZ-induced diabetes.

• Journal of Korean Orthopaedic Sports Medicine
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.27-32
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• 2008

Purpose: To evaluate the clinical results of the patients who underwent radiofrequency thermal shrinkage (RFTS) for treatment of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) laxity after ACL reconstruction. Material and Methods: From October 1999 to March 2006, we performed 133 cases of ACL reconstruction. Among them we experienced 16 patients who had the laxity of reconstructed ACL in second look arthroscopy. Mean follow-up was 20.4 months. Mean age was 33.5 years. 12 cases were male and 4 cases were female. The elongated ACL were treated by bipolar radiofrequency energy with an output of grade II. Subjective and objective parameters were utilized in analyses, such as: the mean range of motion, Lysholm knee score, Tegner activity score, Lachman test, IKDC score. Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used to perform the data analysis. P<0.05 was considered to be statistically significant. Results: Postoperative mean Lysholm knee score (preop: $82.2{\pm}5.2(77{\sim}85))$ (P=0.04), postop: $85.2{\pm}4.8$(82-90)) and anterior displacement by the Telos stress test (preop: $5.4{\pm}4.6(3{\sim}10)mm$, postop: $2.1{\pm}1.9(0{\sim}4)mm)$ (P=0.02), Lachman's test, and IKDC scores (P=0.04) demonstrated significant differences statistically compared to the preoperative. There were no statistical differences in mean range of motion, Tegner activity scale. Conclusions: Arthroscopic shrinkage for the ACL laxity after ACL reconstruction with radiofrequency device showed good clinical results and was applicable operative technique.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.52-60
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• 2001

Purpose: In young male patients who suffered several kinds of trauma with subsequent suspicious reflex sympathetic dystrophy syndrome, we performed three-phasic bone scan in order to investigate its usefulness. Materials and Methods: Patients with narrow range of age (21-25. mean $22.8{\pm}1.3$, all male) were included with suspicious reflex sympathetic dystrophy syndrome of 12 feet and 5 hands. Only one was bilateral feet case and 16 were ipsilateral (Rt:13, Lt:3). The etiologic traumas were 4 fractures, 4 sprains, 3 blunt trauma, 2 cellulitis, 1 tendon tear, 1 crush injury, 1 overexercise, and 1 unknown. Radiologically 3 showed osteoporotic changes. Three-phasic bone scans were performed $21.2{\pm}7.3wks$ after trauma. Results: According to symptom complex, confirmatory reflex sympathetic dystrophy syndrome 4 cases and suspicious 13 were analyzed. All confirmatory cases (100%) showed increased uptake at delay phase with periarticular accentuation. Of confirmatory 4 cases, 2 showed increased uptake in all three phases (perfusion: P, blood pool: B, and delay: D), and other 2 revealed decreased P but, both increased B and D. Of suspicious 13 cases, 9(69.2%) had increased D (4 periarticular and 5 focal), 2 decreased D, and 2 symmetric D. In 12 foot cases, so-called weight hearing patterns - increased contralateral sole at P and B - were revealed in 7(58.3%). Conclusion: Diffuse periarticular increased uptake at delay phase of three-phasic bone scan was a compatible finding to reflex sympathetic dystrophy syndrome in young male patients whose symptom complex strongly designated post traumatic reflex sympathetic dystrophy syndrome.