• Journal of Life Science
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.318-324
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• 2016

This study was aimed to verify anti-inflammatory activity of fermented Sargassum siliquanstrum with lactic acid bacteria. Anti-inflammatory activities were compared by measuring the amount of nitric oxide (NO) in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages and suppressive effect on inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression in stably transfected RAW 264.7 cells. Inhibitory activities of NO production and iNOS expression were measured after confirmation of NO radical scavenging activities. Fermentation increased NO radical scavenging activities from 7.6% to 15.2% compared to non-fermented condition, and fermentation with Lactobacillus sp. SH-1 was the most efficient. Fermentation without algal debris showed better NO radical scavenging activities than that with debris. Fermentation with Lactobacillus sp. SH-1 also showed the highest NO production inhibitory activity (64.1%) in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. LPS-induced iNOS expression was diminished to 28.6, 35.6, 49.4 and 58.5 at 50, 100, 500 and 1,000 μg/ml, respectively, by fermentation with Lactobacillus sp. SH-1. According to MTT assay, fermented S. siliquanstrum did not influence the cell viability at all concentrations tested, meaning no or less cytotoxicity. These results suggest that S. siliquanstrum has NO radical scavenging activity and anti-inflammatory activity. Thus biological activities of S. siliquanstrum were upgraded by fermentation, which could be used for the development of functional foods.

• Journal of Korean Society of Steel Construction
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.1-12
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• 2010

According to the capacity design concept which forms the basis of the current steel seismic codes, the braces in concentrically braced frames (CBFs) should dissipate seismic energy through cyclic tension yielding and cyclic compression buckling while the beams and the columns should remain elastic. Brace buckling in inverted V-braced frames induces unbalanced vertical forces which, in turn, impose the additional beam moments and column axial forces. However, due to difficulty in predicting the location of buckling stories, the most conservative approach implied in the design code is to estimate the column axial forces by adding all the unbalanced vertical forces in the upper stories. One alternative approach, less conservative and recommended by the current code, is to estimate the column axial forces based on the amplified seismic load expected at the mechanism-level response. Both are either too conservative or lacking technical foundation. In this paper, three combination rules for a rational estimation of the column axial forces were proposed. The idea central to the three methods is to detect the stories of high buckling potential based on pushover analysis and dynamic behavior. The unbalanced vertical forces in the stories detected as high buckling potential are summed in a linear manner while those in other stories are combined by following the SRSS(square root of sum of squares) rule. The accuracy and design advantage of the three methods were validated by comparing extensive inelastic dynamic analysis results. The mode-shape based method(MSBM), which is both simple and accurate, is recommended as the method of choice for practicing engineers among the three.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.50-56
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• 2010

Purpose: We report the results of an external audit on the absorbed dose of radiotherapy beams independently performed by third parties. For this effort, we developed a method to measure the absorbed dose to water in an easy and convenient setup of solid water phantom. Materials and Methods: In 2008, 12 radiotherapy centers voluntarily participated in the external auditing program and 47 beams of X-ray and electron were independently calibrated by the third party’s American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM) task group (TG)-51 protocol. Even though the AAPM TG-51 protocol recommended the use of water, water as a phantom has a few disadvantages, especially in a busy clinic. Instead, we used solid water phantom due to its reproducibility and convenience in terms of setup and transport. Dose conversion factors between solid water and water were determined for photon and electron beams of various energies by using a scaling method and experimental measurements. Results: Most of the beams (74%) were within ${\pm}2%$ of the deviation from the third party's protocol. However, two of 20 X-ray beams and three of 27 electron beams were out of the tolerance (${\pm}3%$), including two beams with a >10% deviation. X-ray beams of higher than 6 MV had no conversion factors, while a 6 MV absorbed dose to a solid water phantom was 0.4% less than the dose to water. The electron dose conversion factors between the solid water phantom and water were determined: The higher the electron energy, the less is the conversion factor. The total uncertainty of the TG-51 protocol measurement using a solid water phantom was determined to be ${\pm}1.5%$. Conclusion: The developed method was successfully applied for the external auditing program, which could be evolved into a credential program of multi-institutional clinical trials. This dosimetry saved time for measuring doses as well as decreased the uncertainty of measurement possibly resulting from the reference setup in water.

• Journal of Korea Water Resources Association
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• v.50 no.7
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• pp.503-511
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• 2017

In order to estimate the demand for water resources planning and operation, methodology for determining the size of water supply facilities has been mainly applied to agricultural water, unlike living and industrial water, which reflects actual usage trends. This inevitably leads to an overestimation of agricultural water and can lead to an imbalance in the supply and demand of each use in terms of the total water resources plan. In this study, the difference of approaches of concept of net consumption was examined in comparison with the existing methodology and the characteristics of agricultural water demand were analyzed by applying it to whole Jeju Island. SWAT model was applied to estimate the amount of evapotranspiration, which is a key factor in estimating demand, and watershed modeling was performed to reflect geographical features, weather, runoff and water use characteristics of Jeju Island. For the past period (1992~2013), demand of Jeju Island as a whole was analyzed as 427 mm per year, and it showed a relatively high demand around the eastern and western coastal regions. Annual demand and seasonal variation characteristics of 10 river basins with watershed area of $30km^2$ or more were also analyzed. In addition, by applying the cultivated area of each crop in 2020 in the future, it is estimated that the demand corresponding to the 10-year frequency drought is 54% of the amount demanded in the previous research. This is due to the difference in approach depending on the purpose of the demand calculation. From the viewpoint of water resource management and operation, additional demand is expected as much as the net consumption. However, from the actual supply perspective, it can be judged that a facility plan that meets the existing demand amount is necessary. In order to utilize the methodologies and results presented in this study in practice, it is necessary to make a reasonable discussion in terms of policy and institutional as well as engineering verification.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.274-286
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• 2010

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of the rearing, health and nutrition services through intervention in GP-GC (grandparents-grandchildren) families. Methods: A structured questionnaire was administered in January 2008 and January 2009 to 55(70) grandparents of GP-GC families who received intervention services also GP-GC families that did not receive services. The study area was the city of Chunnam Province, South Korea. The intervention services were provided by electronic voucher one day per week. The questionnaire assessed the general characteristics of the grandparents, childcare stress and burden, health status (ADL, IADL, depression, subjective health status and fall index) and mini nutritional assessment(MNA). The data were analyzed using SPSS software and an F-test, Chi-squared test and t-test. Results: The stress of grandparents resulting from childcare was high, but depression in grandparents perceived by grandchildren was significantly lower in served GP-GC families than in non-served GP-GC families. Differences in scores of affection (t=2.12, df=116, p<.05), automatics (t=2.92, df=116, p<.01), realistic(t=2.24, df=116, p<.05), and level of depression(t=2.90, df=116, p<.01) were significant. Incidences of acute disease, IADL cognitive fuction and depression of grandparents were slightly higher. Intervention services for GP-GC families had an impact on the childcare attitude and health status of grandparents. The intervention services of nutrition for grandparents were not promoted, but the scoring for subjective nutrition status were statistically higher for the served group (t=18.230, p<.0001). Conclusions: This study found that intervention programs of childcare services and health and nutrition management are effective for grandparents of GP-GC families. Intervention services for GP-GC family should establish the political issue.

• Korea journal of population studies
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.17-45
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• 1987

This study contributes to understanding women's labor market behavior by focusing on a particular set of labor force transitions - labor force withdrawal and entry during the period surrounding the first birth of a child. In particular, this study provides a dynamic analyses, using longitudinal data and event history analysis, to conceptualize labor force behaviors in a straightforward way. The main research question addresses which factors increase or decrease the hazard rates of leaving and entering the labor market. This study used piecewise Gompertz model, following the guide of the non-parametric analysis on the hazard rates, which allowed relatively detailed description on the distribution of timing of leave and entry to the labor market as parameters of interest. The results show that preferences and structural variables, as well as economic considerations, are very important factors to explain the labor market behavior of women in the period surrounding childbirth.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.51 no.4
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• pp.275-286
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• 2018

Purpose: Our previous study demonstrated that persimmon (Diospyros kaki Thumb.) at different stages of ripening provided different protective effects against high-fat/cholesterol diet (HFD)-induced dyslipidemia in rats. In this study, we compared the metabolites profile and gene expressions related to triglyceride (TG)/cholesterol metabolism in vitro and in vivo after treating with persimmon water extracts (PWE) or tannin-enriched persimmon concentrate (TEP). Methods: Primary and secondary metabolites in test materials were determined by GC-TOF/MS, UHPLC-LTQ-ESI-IT-MS/MS, and UPLC-Q-TOF-MS. The expression of genes related to TG and cholesterol metabolism were determined by RT-PCR both in HepG2 cells stimulated by oleic acid/palmitic acid and in liver tissues obtained from Wistar rats fed with HFD and PWE at 0, 150, 300, and 600 mg/d (experiment I) or TEP at 0, 7, 14, and 28 mg/d (experiment II) by oral gavage for 9 weeks. Results: PLS-DA analysis and heatmap analysis demonstrated significantly differential profiling of metabolites of PWE and TEP according to processing of persimmon powder. In vitro, TEP showed similar hypolipidemic effects as PWE, but significantly enhanced hypocholesterolemic effects compared to PWE in sterol regulatory element-binding protein 2 (SREBP2), HMG-CoA reductase (HMGCR), proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9), cholesterol $7{\alpha}-hydroxylase$ (CYP7A1), and low density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR) gene expression. Consistently, TEP and PWE showed similar hypolipidemic capacity in vivo, but significantly enhanced hypocholesterolemic capacity in terms of SREBP2, HMGCR, and bile salt export pump (BSEP) gene expression. Conclusion: These results suggest that column extraction after hot water extraction may be a good strategy to enhance tannins and long-chain fatty acid amides, which might cause stimulation of hypocholesterolemic actions through downregulation of cholesterol biosynthesis gene expression and upregulation of LDL receptor gene expression.

• Journal of Korean Society of Transportation
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.437-448
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• 2016

Some previous researches suggested a transit trip destination inference method by constructing trip chains with incomplete(missing destination) smart card dataset obtained on the entry fare control systems. To explore the feasibility of the transit trip destination inference method, the transit trip chains are constructed from the pre-paid smart card tagging data collected in Busan on October 2014 weekdays by tracing the card IDs, tagging times(boarding, alighting, transfer), and the trip linking distances between two consecutive transit trips in a daily sequences. Assuming that most trips in the transit trip chains are linked successively, the individual transit trip destination zones are inferred as the consecutive linking trip's origin zones. Applying the model to the complete trips with observed OD reveals that about 82% of the inferred trip destinations are the same as those of the observed trip destinations and the inference error defined as the difference in distance between the inferred and observed alighting stops is minimized when the trip linking distance is less than or equal to 0.5km. When applying the model to the incomplete trips with missing destinations, the overall destination missing rate decreases from 71.40% to 21.74% and approximately 77% of the destination missing trips are the single transit trips for which the destinations can not be inferable. In addition, the model remarkably reduces the destination missing rate of the multiple incomplete transit trips from 69.56% to 6.27%. Spearman's rank correlation and Chi-squared goodness-of-fit tests showed that the ranks for transit trips of each zone are not significantly affected by the inferred trips, but the transit trip distributions only using small complete trips are significantly different from those using complete and inferred trips. Therefore, it is concluded that the model should be applicable to derive a realistic transit trip patterns in cities with the incomplete smart card data.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.345-351
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• 2011

A liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (LC-ESI/MS/MS) method was developed and validated for the determination of finasteride in human serum. Beclomethasone was used as internal standard (IS) and liquid-liquid extraction (LLE) using methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) was carried out to isolate analyte. The mass transitions monitored in multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) in positive ion mode were m/z 373.2${\rightarrow}$305.2 for finasteride and m/z 409.3${\rightarrow}$391.2 for IS. Retention times of finasteride and IS were 5.81 and 5.46 min, respectively. The limit of quantitation (LOQ) was 0.1 ng/mL and the calibration curve showed good linearity in the range of 0.1~20.0 ng/mL ($R^2$=0.9997). The intra-day assay precision and accuracy were in the range 6.3~10.6% and 97.3~103.6%, respectively, and the inter-day assay precision and accuracy were in the range 0.8~5.2% and 99.8~102.5%, respectively. The sample extract recovery of the method was 80~83%.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.508-516
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• 2010

An autonomous and automatic home mess-cleanup robot is newly developed in this paper. Thus far, vacuum-cleaners have lightened the burden of household chores but the operational labor that vacuum-cleaners entail has been very severe. Recently, a cleaning robot was commercialized to solve but it also was not successful because it still had the problem of mess-cleanup, which pertained to the clean-up of large trash and the arrangement of newspapers, clothes, etc. Hence, we develop a new home mess-cleanup robot (McBot) to completely overcome this problem. The robot needs the capability for agile navigation and a novel manipulation system for mess-cleanup. The autonomous navigational system has to be controlled for the full scanning of the living room and for the precise tracking of the desired path. It must be also be able to recognize the absolute position and orientation of itself and to distinguish the messed object that is to be cleaned up from obstacles that should merely be avoided. The manipulator, which is not needed in a vacuum-cleaning robot, has the functions of distinguishing the large trash that is to be cleaned from the messed objects that are to be arranged. It needs to use its discretion with regard to the form of the messed objects and to properly carry these objects to the destination. In particular, in this paper, we describe our approach for achieving accurate localization using RFID for home mess-cleanup robots. Finally, the effectiveness of the developed McBot is confirmed through live tests of the mess-cleanup task.