• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.55 no.1
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• pp.88-97
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• 2003

Background : Although smoking is a major cause of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), only 10-20% of cigarette smokers develop symptomatic COPD, which suggests the presence of genetic susceptibility. This genetic susceptibility to COPD might depend on variations in the activities of the enzyme that detoxify hazardous chemical products, such as microsomal epoxide hydrolase (mEPHX) and glutathione-S transferase M1 subunit (GSTM1) genes. Methods : The genotypes of 58 patients with COPD, and 79 age matched control subjects, were determined by a polymerase chain reaction, followed by restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) for the mEPHX, and multiplex PCR for the GSTM1. Results : GSTM1 was deleted in 53.3% of the subjects. There was no difference in GSTM1 deletion rates between the COPD patients (32/58, 55.2%) and the control subjects (41/79, 51.9%). The combination patterns of two polymorphisms of mEPHX showed slow enzyme activity in 29(21.2%), normal in 73(53.3%) and fast in 32(23.4%). The COPD group (7/57, 12.3%) showed a significantly lower incidence of slow enzyme activity compared to the control subjects (22/77, 28.6%, p<0.05). However, when the COPD and control groups were compared with smokers only, there were no significant differences in the genotypes of GSTM1 and mEPHX. Conclusion : The genotypes of GSTM1 and mEPHX were not significant risk factors of COPD in this cohort of study.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.107-115
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• 1999

Purpose : Enterobiasis is probably one of the most common parasitic infection world-wide. Human is the only known host of Enterobius vermicularis. Children are more commonly infected with Enterobius vermicularis than adults and infections are commonly recurred. In Korea, there is a high prevalence. So, we performed this study to evaluate the present status of Enterobius vermicularis infection among children in the Masan, Changwon areas and to determine the efficacy of flubendazole against this parasitic nematode. Methods : From November to December, 1997, urban and rural elementary school children and urban preschool children were examined for the presence of Enterobius vermicularis egg. All the children were examined once by an adhesive cellotape anal swab technique in the early morning at home by their parents guided by specific instructions for the technique. Results : 1) A total of 644 adhesive cellotape anal swab specimens was collected from 205 urban elementary school children, 290 rural elementary school children and 145 urban preschool children. Among them, 114(17.7%) were positive for Enterobius vermicularis eggs. There was no significant differences in the rate with regard to sex. 2) In the preschool children, the egg detection rate was 42(29.0%) out of 145 children. This rate was significantly higher compared with 72(14.4%) of 499 school children. 3) The egg detection rates in the rural and urban school children were 15.2, 13.7% respectively. There was no significant difference in both groups. In the 3rd grade and below in elementary school children, there was a higher rate compared with above 4th grade group. 4) In day care center where egg detection rate was high as 41%, the children were given two doses of 100mg flubendazole every 3 weeks, including staffs and family members. After treatment, egg detection rate fatted as 6%. Conclusion : Our data demonstrated that there was high prevalence of Enterobius vermicularis infection. In the light of these results, it is necessary to examine and treat children as soon as possible.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.66 no.2
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• pp.93-97
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• 2009

Background: Belotecan (Camtobell, CKD-602, Chongkundang Pharm., Korea), a camptothecin derivative, has anticancer effects by inhibiting topoisomerase I such as topotecan. This study observed the response, survival and toxicity of belotecan monotherapy after the failure of etoposide and platinum (EP). Methods: Forty nine small cell lung cancer (SCLC) patients (M/F=41/8; age, 64.5${\pm}$7.6 (mean${\pm}$SD) years), who failed in their first line chemotherapy were enrolled in this study. Twenty one SCLC patients showed relapsed lung cancer more than 90 days after their priorEP chemotherapy (sensitive relapse group, SR) and 28 patients relapsed within 90 days (refractory relapse group, RR). Results: The response rate was 25%. Eleven patients showed partial responses and 5 patients could not be checked. The response rate of the SR and RR patients was similar. The relative dose intensity was lower in the responders (78${\pm}$15%) than non-responders (83${\pm}$13%, p=0.03). The median survival time (MST) was 10.3 months (290 days). The MST of the non-responders and responders was 186 days (95% CI; 67-305) and 401 days (95% CI; 234-568, p=0.07), respectively. The median progression free survival (MPFS) was similar in the SR (79 days) and RR (67 days) patients. Grade 3-4 neutropenia, anemia, and thrombocytopenia were observed in 59.6%, 12.8% and 23.4% of patients, respectively. Conclusion: The efficacy and survival were demonstrated in the second-line setting. However, a randomized comparative trial with topotecan will be needed.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.46 no.1
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• pp.56-66
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• 2003

Purpose : Human umbilical vein endothelial cells(HUVECs) play an important role in regulating blood flow by releasing vasoactive substances. It has been reported that endothelial impairment and dysfunction might be a primary cause of placental vascular disease, which is manifested clinically as preeclampsia in mother and intrauterine growth restriction in fetus. Furthermore, the frequency of apoptotic changes is increased in umbilical and placental tissues from growth-restricted pregnancies. However, the various mechanisms of umbilical endothelial cell apoptosis have not been broadly proposed. We investigate the effects of amiloride derivatives on apoptotic death of HUVECs and identify their ionic mechanism. Methods : HUVECs were purchased from Clonetics, and cultured on endothelial cell growth medium. MTT assay and flow cytometry were used for assessing cytotoxic effect and confirming the apoptosis. Changes in intracellular ion concentrations were measured with specific fluorescent dyes and fluorescence imaging analysis system. Results : Amiloride derivatives elicited cytotoxic effects on HUVECs with dose-dependent manners and the rank order of potency is HMA($IC_{50}\;11.2{\mu}M$), MIA>EIPA>>amiloride. HMA-induced cytotoxicity is dependent on extra- and intracellular pH, that is, increase extra- and intracellular pH augmented the cytotoxic effects of HMA. HMA dose-dependently reduced intracellular major ions, such as $K^+$ and $Cl^-$. Interestingly, the depletion of intracellular ions induced by HMA was also significantly enhanced at alkaline extracellular pH. Conclusion : Amiloride derivatives induce apoptosis of HUVECs with dose and pH dependent manners. They reduce intracellular $K^+$ and $Cl^-$ concentration, which is also extracellular pH dependent.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
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• v.45 no.6
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• pp.10-27
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• 2017

Recently, the importance of recognizing the natural environment and the need for its conservation are increasing due to rapid urbanization. Suncheon Bay, designated as Scenic Site No. 41 and one of the World's Five Greatest Coastal Wetlands, is the only tideland among the tidal flats in Korea, which has salt marsh reserves. It has high conservation value from the ecological aspect. In addition to the Suncheon Bay National Garden, it provides various benefits not only to visitors but to local residents as well in terms of economics, environmental issues, and history and cultural aspects. Two million tourists visit the site annually, which has constantly highlighted the limits of ecological capacity. The valuation of the Suncheon Bay wetland is more important for the sustainability of the Suncheon Bay wetland than for its value as a tourism resource for the activation of the local economy. This study used the Logit model, which is commonly used among probabilistic choice models, to evaluate the economic value of Suncheon Bay wetland with the contingent valuation method(CVM). Applying the conservation value of the Suncheon Bay wetland to the benefit of KRW 8,200 for 1 person and 1 day, the benefit from exploration is KRW 2,050, the management and conservation value is KRW 3,034, and the heritage value is KRW 3,116. The results of this study are that benefit from the annual exploration of Suncheon Bay wetland was KRW 44.3 in billion, the management and conservation value was KRW 6.55 in billion, and the heritage value was KRW 6.73 in billion. When converted to the number of paying visitors per year, the conservation value is about KRW 177.1 billion. This study was conducted to evaluate the use and conservation aspects of the economic value of Suncheon Bay wetland. Based on the latent value of the Suncheon Bay wetland, it provides basic data about the efficient management and policy establishment of Suncheon Bay wetland. The study is significant in that the ecological sustainability of the Suncheon bay wetland and the value of non-marketable were evaluated based on the recognition of 'benefit through exploration', 'management and conservation value' and 'value of heritage'. It can be used as policy decision data on the integrated collection of the admission fee of the Suncheon Bay wetland and Suncheon Bay National Garden.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Traditional Landscape Architecture
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.75-87
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• 2017

This study is the research about Okcheonjeong(玉泉亭) located in the backyard of Namhansanseong(南漢山城)'s temporary palace(行宮). Okcheonjeong was not only built by a government inside Namhansanseong but it was also representative garden which is shown the culture of the nobility. It became famous garden ruins recently because it has remained many carved stones. However, there has been no study about Okcheonjeong yet. We studied Okcheonjeong to establish basic knowledge by literature analysis and field investigation. We tried to discover garden style by deciphering carved stones, and estimate Okcheonjeong's location by documentary research. Sim, Sang-Gyu became Gwangjuyusu(廣州留守) in 1816, and he built Okcheonjeong on the backyard of Namhansanseong's temporary palace in 1817. It was located in the foot of a mountain beside a stream. It consisted of Pungaepok(楓靄瀑: waterfall), Chusudam(秋水潭: a little pond), and Okcheon(玉泉: a stone wall). The stone for sign stands in front of the entrance of Pungaepok to show Okcheonjeong, and there is Yeongyeondae(泠然臺) above the waterfall. We thought that Okcheonjeong was typical Imcheon-garden(林泉庭苑). Okcheonjeong is located in the foot of a mountain following Gamigyeong(歌薇逕) 60 meters so it was able to see the whole temporary palace from the Okcheonjeong. It was the garden pavilion of temporary palace, but it was used in semi public garden(半公的庭苑). Okcheonjeong is the only graden ruins which was located in Namhansanseong, so we have to preserve as cultural heritage. We expect to make use of primary datas to restore Namhansanseong soundly which was world heritage.

• Journal of Technology Innovation
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.199-232
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• 2018

There are increasing needs for understanding and fathoming of business management environment through big data analysis at industrial and corporative level. The research using the company disclosure information, which is comprehensively covering the business performance and the future plan of the company, is getting attention. However, there is limited research on developing applicable analytical models leveraging such corporate disclosure data due to its unstructured nature. This study proposes a text-mining-based analytical model for industrial and firm level analyses using publicly available company disclousre data. Specifically, we apply LDA topic model and word2vec word embedding model on the U.S. SEC data from the publicly listed firms and analyze the trends of business topics at the industrial and corporate levels. Using LDA topic modeling based on SEC EDGAR 10-K document, whole industrial management topics are figured out. For comparison of different pattern of industries' topic trend, software and hardware industries are compared in recent 20 years. Also, the changes of management subject at firm level are observed with comparison of two companies in software industry. The changes of topic trends provides lens for identifying decreasing and growing management subjects at industrial and firm level. Mapping companies and products(or services) based on dimension reduction after using word2vec word embedding model and principal component analysis of 10-K document at firm level in software industry, companies and products(services) that have similar management subjects are identified and also their changes in decades. For suggesting methodology to develop analysis model based on public management data at industrial and corporate level, there may be contributions in terms of making ground of practical methodology to identifying changes of managements subjects. However, there are required further researches to provide microscopic analytical model with regard to relation of technology management strategy between management performance in case of related to various pattern of management topics as of frequent changes of management subject or their momentum. Also more studies are needed for developing competitive context analysis model with product(service)-portfolios between firms.

• Journal of Korea Foundry Society
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.144-152
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• 2021

Based on the analysis of the current state of the world's foundry industry, we looked at the international competitiveness of Korea's foundry industry for the past 20 years. Korea's total foundry production is 2.52 million tons, and the production per company (so-called productivity) is 2,831 tons, which is the eighth largest in the world and down one position for the case of total foundry production, while productivity remains its position compared to three years ago. Korea is the only one of the top 10 foundry to see a decline in production. Similar to the global situation, Korean products consist of 38% of grey csat iron, 31% of ductile cast iron, 15% of aluminum, and 9% of cast steel. In order to obtain statistics on Korea's foundry industry, the survey conducted a service project for approximately nine months from April 2020. Various statistical surveys and sample in-depth surveys by the Korean standard industry class were evaluated for various contents of the domestic casting industry. We also looked at the number of companies, the distribution by region, the number of workers and the percentage of foreigners, and the distribution of each job, as well as the R&D investment status according to the size of the enterprise. Together, sales, exports, sales and various profit ratios were analyzed to measure the earning power of foundry industry. In addition, the classification by grouping the foundry industry according to the process utilized by focusing on each company, and to determine the sales, exports, and yield status for each process was also investigated on the basis. Based on these data, the domestic foundry industry has presented a variety of offers for the following issues for sustainable growth; global ranking, marginal corporate restructuring, training of domestic technical people, differentiated support policies by company size and process.

• Journal of Venture Innovation
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.71-80
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• 2022

The real estate market is an important part of a country's economy and plays a major role in economic growth through the growth of many related industries. Changes in interest rates affect asset prices and have a significant impact on housing prices. This study analyzed housing prices by dividing them into nationwide, local, and Seoul housing prices in order to analyze whether the effect of changes in interest rates on housing prices shows regional differences. The analysis was conducted from the first quarter of 2011 to the fourth quarter of 2021, and was analyzed using the DOLS model. The main analysis results are as follows. First, interest rates were found to have a significant negative effect on national housing prices, and a drop in interest rates significantly increased national housing prices and an increase in interest rates significantly lowered national housing prices. The consumer price index and loan growth rate also had a positive effect on housing prices nationwide, but statistical significance was not high. Second, interest rates had a negative effect on local housing prices, unlike national housing prices, but were not statistically significant. On the other hand, it was found that the consumer price index and loan growth rate had a larger and significant positive effect on local housing prices compared to national housing prices. Finally, it was found that the interest rate had the only significant negative effect on housing prices in Seoul. And this effect was greater and more significant than the effect on national and local housing prices. In the end, it was found that the effect of interest rates on Korean housing prices differs locally. Interest rates have a significant negative effect on national housing prices, and local housing prices, but they are not statistically significant. In addition, the interest rate was found to have the largest and most significant negative effect on housing prices in Seoul. In addition, it was found that there was a difference in the effect of macroeconomic variables on housing prices. This means that there are differences between regions with different factors influencing local and Seoul housing prices, and this point should be considered when drafting and implementing real estate policies.

• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.224-235
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• 2023

South Korea is the only divided nation globally, marked by a military demarcation line establishing demilitarized and civilian control zones, ensuring national security. Consequently, these areas exhibit relatively minimal ecological disruption compared to other regions. However, the threat to safety persists due to the presence of unexploded ordnances and landmines, imposing significant constraints on ecological research. To address this, we conducted a comparative study utilizing eDNA analysis as a supplementary and alternative approach within three points of the "Road of Peace" - Inje, Yanggu, and Hwacheon courses, located within the civilian control zone. Direct surveys and indirect eDNA sampling were carried out in May, July, and September of 2022. Genetic material obtained from the samples underwent amplification, library preparation, MiSeq sequencing, and subsequent ASV generation for indirect analysis. These results were then compared with the findings of direct surveys. Our findings revealed the detection of eDNA for both observed species at the Yanggu-1 point, and for two out of four species at Yanggu-2. Hwacheon-1 displayed the detection of eDNA for one out of one observed species, whereas Hwacheon-2 yielded seven out of twelve, Hwacheon-3 showed four out of six, and all one observed species at Hwacheon-4 exhibited eDNA detection. Consequently, approximately 69% of the fish species identified through direct surveys were confirmed by indirect eDNA analysis. It is necessary to verify if certain fish species, such as the continental trout and catfish, have genetic information registered in the NCBI database. Additionally, it is believed that further marker development research utilizing different genetic sequences is essential. Given the limitations imposed by the hazardous nature of the surveyed civilian control zone, eDNA analysis proves to be a suitable supplement for fish research in the area.