• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.257-263
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• 2016

Objective of this study was to evaluate the carbon budget on 40 years old pear orchard at Naju. For carbon budget assessment, we measured the soil respiration, net ecosystem productivity of herbs, pear biomass and net ecosystem exchange. In 2015, pear orchard released about $25.6ton\;CO_2\;ha^{-1}$ by soil respiration. And $27.9ton\;CO_2\;ha^{-1}$ was sequestrated by biomass growth. Also about $12.6ton\;CO_2\;ha^{-1}$ was stored at pruning branches and about $5.2ton\;CO_2\;ha^{-1}$ for photosynthesis of herbs. As a result, 25.6 ton of $CO_2$ per ha is annually released to atmosphere. At the same time about 45.7 ton of $CO_2$ was sequestrated from atmosphere. When it sum up the amount of $CO_2$ release and sequestration, approximately $20.1ton\;CO_2\;ha^{-1}$ was sequestrated by pear orchard in 2015, and it showed no significant differences with net ecosystem exchanges ($17.8ton\;CO_2\;ha^{-1}\;yr^{-1}$) by eddy covariance method with the same period. Continuous research using various techniques will help the understanding of $CO_2$ dynamics in agroecosystem and it can be able to present a new methodology for assessment of carbon budget in woody crop field. Futhermore, it is expected that the this study can be used as the basic data to be recognized as a carbon sink.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.143-146
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• 2010

Purpose: Insulin is involved in carbohydrate metabolism and also it's very important because it increases storage of glycogen, synthesis of fatty acids, absorption of amino acid, synthesis of protein. Insulin is clinically useful when we evaluate fasting patients in hypoglycemia, classify and predict diabetes, assess the activity of ${\beta}$-cell, research insulin resistance. We are going to increase usability of insulin assay by establishing normal reference value according to statistical analysis. Material & Method: We selected 6,648 patients who visited asan health medical center from May to August in 2008. We set exclusion criteria as family of diabetes, diabetes medication, the past history of blood glucose rise, more than 100 mg/dL in normal fasting blood glucose, outside the scope of BMI 18.5~22.9 $kg/m^2$, and more than HbA1c 6.5%. We determine whether the subgroup is portioned as sex and age or not and establish normal reference value by conducting statistical analysis as Bayesian's method and Hoffman's method. Result: Portioning of subgroup as sex and age is not needed. By statistical analysis of Bayesian method, results 1.5-11.0 uIU/mL. By statistical analysis of Hoffman method, results 1.8~12.8 uIU/mL. Conclusion: We established 1.8~12.8 uIU/mL as Insulin normal reference value by Hoffman method. This is a similar value with reporting reference value 1.7~11.8 uIU/mL in kit. This will enhance the usability of insulin assay by establishing normal reference value.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.5 no.6
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• pp.401-407
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• 2011

The purpose of this study is to know the differences of MR spectra, obtained from normal volunteers by variable TE value, through the quantitative analysis of brain metabolites by peak integral and SNR between 1.5T and 3.0T, together with PRESS and STEAM pulse sequence. Single-voxel MR proton spectra of the human brain obtained from normal volunteers at both 3.0T MR system (Magnetom Trio, SIEMENS, Germany) and 1.5T MR system (Signa Twinspeed, GE, USA) using the STEAM and PRESS pulse sequence. 10 healthy volunteers (3.0T:3 males, 2 females; 1.5T : 3 males, 2 females) with the range from 22 to 30 years old (mean 26 years) participated in our study. They had no personal or familial history of neurological diseases and had a normal neurological examination. Data acquisition parameters were closely matched between the two field strengths. Spectra were recorded in the white matter of the occipital lobe. Spectra were compared in terms of resolution and signal-to-noise ratio(SNR), and echo time(TE) were estimated at both field strengths. Imaging parameters was used for acquisition of the proton spectrum were as follow : TR 2000msec, TE 30ms, 40ms, 50ms, 60ms, 90ms, 144ms, 288ms, NA=96, VOI=$20{\times}20{\times}20mm3$. As the echo times were increased, the spectra obtained from 3.0T and 1.5T show decreased peak integral and SNR at both pulse sequence. PRESS pulse sequence shows higher SNR and signal intensity than those of STEAM. Especially, Spectra in normal volunteers at 3.0T demonstrated significantly improved overall SNR and spectral resolution compared to 1.5T(Fig1). The spectra acquired at short echo time, 3T MR system shows a twice improvement in SNR compared to 1.5T MR system(Table. 1). But, there was no significant difference between 3.0Tand 1.5T at long TE It is concluded that PRESS and short TE is useful for quantification of the brain metabolites at 3.0T MRS, our standardized protocol for quantification of the brain metabolites at 3.0T MRS is useful to evaluate the brain diseases by monitoring the systematic changes of biochemical metabolites concentration in vivo.

• Journal of the Korean Geographical Society
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• v.49 no.6
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• pp.897-916
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• 2014

There is a considerable community between Eight Constitution Medicine and disease ecology in that they examine the relationship between humans and environment in terms of genetic, environmental and cultural factors, in addition to the factor of germs. In this respect, the purpose of this research aims to investigate the community between Eight Constitution Medicine, a branch of Eastern Medicine and disease ecology in geography. The research method is to analyse the clinical results from 647 patients and the data from a field survey on the Yeonggwang-gun County, Jeollanam-do Province. The results are summarized as the following: First, geographical distribution of patients varies depending on the type of physical constitution; it is also divided into two types, an oceanic type and an inland type. Second, it is highly probable that there is a significant relation between a vulnerable disease in association with a type of physical constitution and patient's native place; there are diseases that are not associated with all the patients who have the same constitution; they might be incurred by the eating or life habits in association with the characteristics of geographical environment. Third, the case study of Yeonggwang-gun County, Jeollanam-do Province, with a focus on the mutual relationship among the three factors. shows that patients, who share in common the eating or life habits that coincide with their own personal types of constitution, maintain a good health condition; if not, they tend to be exposed to a various kinds of disease. Because the study on the community between Eight Constitution Medicine and disease ecology is now at the early stage, diverse types of approaches should be tried to be applied in the future.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.18 no.10
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• pp.442-447
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• 2017

The purpose of this study was to establish norm-referenced criteria for the isokinetic strength of the elbow joint in Korean high school baseball players. Two hundred and one high school baseball players participated in this study, none of whom had any medical problem with their upper limbs. The elbow flexion/extension test was conducted four times at a speed of $60^{\circ}/sec$. The HUMAC NORM (CSMI, USA) system was used to obtain the values of the peak torque and peak torque per body weight. The results were presented as norm-referenced criterion valuesusing the 5-point scale of Cajori which consists of five stages (6.06%, 24.17%, 38.30%, 24.17%, and 6.06%). In the results of this study, the peak torques of the elbow (flexor and extensor?) at an angular velocity of $60^{\circ}/sec$ were $37.88{\pm}8.14Nm$ and $44.59{\pm}11.79Nm$, and the peak torque per body weight of the elbow (flexor and extensor?) were $50.06{\pm}8.66Nm$ and $58.28{\pm}12.84Nm$, respectively. The reference values of the peak torque and peak torque per body weight of the elbow flexor and extensor were setat an angular velocity of $60^{\circ}/sec$. On the basis of the results analyzed in this study, the following conclusions were drawn. There is a lack of proper studies on the elbow joint strength, even though the most common injury in baseball players occurs in the elbow joint. Therefore, we need to establish a standard muscle strength in order to prevent elbow joint injuries and improve their performance. The criteria for the peak torque and peak torque per body weight established here in will provide useful information for high school baseball players, baseball coaches, athletic trainers and sports injury rehabilitation specialists in injury recovery and return to rehabilitation, which can beutilized as objective clinical assessment data.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.9-13
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• 2018

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess the factors influencing the rescue medication decisions for breakthrough cancer patients and evaluate treatments using the factors. Methods: Based on the results of an online survey conducted by the Korean Society of Hospice and Palliative Care from September 2014 through December 2014, we assessed the level of agreement on nine factors influencing rescue medication preference. The same factors were used to evaluate oral transmucosal fentanyl lozenge, oral oxycodone and intravenous morphine. Results: Agreed by 77 physicians, a rapid onset of action was the most important factor for their decision of rescue medication. Other important factors were easy administration, strong efficacy, predictable efficacy and less adverse effects. Participants agreed that intravenous morphine produced a rapid onset of action and strong and predictable efficacy and cited difficulty of administration and adverse effects as negative factors. Oral oxycodone was desirable in terms of easy administration and less adverse effects. However, its onset of action was slower than intravenous morphine. While many agreed to easy administration of oral transmucosal fentanyl lozenge, the level of agreement was low for strength and predictability of its efficacy, long-term durability and sleep improvement. Conclusion: Rapid onset of action is one of the important factors that influence physicians' selection of rescue medication. Physicians' assessment of rescue medication differed by medication.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.131-140
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• 2003

As the importance of accuracy in measurings of 3-D anatomical structures continues to be stressed, an objective and quantitative of assessing image quality and accuracy of 3-D volume-rendered images is required. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the quantitative accuracy of 3-D rendered images obtained with MDCT, scanned at various scanning parameters (scan modes, slice thicknesses and reconstruction slice thickness). Twelve clinically significant points that play an important role for the craniofacial bone in plastic surgery and dentistry were marked on the surface of a dry human skull. The direct distances between the reference points were defined as gold standards to assess the measuring errors of 3-D images. Then, we scanned the specimen with acquisition parameters of 300 mA, In kVp, and 1.0 sec scan time in axial and helical scan modes (pitch 3:1 and 6:1) at 1,25 mm, 2.50 mm, 3.75 mm and 5.00 mm slice thicknesses. We performed 3-D visualizations and distance measurements with volumetric analysis software and statistically evaluated the quantitative accuracy of distance measurements. The accuracy of distance measurements on the 3-D images acquired with 1.25, 2.50, 3,75 and 5.00 mm slice thickness were 48%, 33%, 23%, 14%, respectively, and those of the reconstructed 1.25 mm were 53%, 41%, 43%, 36% respectively. Meanwhile, there were insignificant statistical differences (P-value<0.05) in the accuracy of the distance measurements of 3-D images reconstructed with 1.25 mm thickness. In conclusion, slice thickness, rather than scan mode, influenced the quantitative accuracy of distance measurements in 3-D rendered images with MDCT. The quantitative analysis of distance measurements may be a useful tool for evaluating the accuracy of 3-D rendered images used in diagnosis, surgical planning, and radiotherapeutic treatment.

• Journal of the Institute of Electronics and Information Engineers
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• v.51 no.12
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• pp.180-188
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• 2014

It is very important accurate diagnosis and quick treatment in cerebrovascular disease, i.e. stenosis or occlusion that could be caused by risk factors such as poor dietary habits, insufficient exercise, and obesity. Time-of-flight magnetic resonance angiography (TOF-MRA), it is well known as diagnostic method without using contrast agent for cerebrovascular disease, is the most representative and reliable technique. Nevertheless, it still has measurement errors (also known as overestimation) for length of stenosis and area of occlusion in celebral infarction that is built by accumulation and rupture of plaques generated by hemodynamic turbulence. The purpose of this study is to show clinical trial feasibility for 3D-SPACE T2, which is improved by using signal attenuation effects of fluid velocity, in diagnosis of cerebrovascular disease. To model angiostenosis, strictures of different proportions (40%, 50%, 60%, and 70%) and virtual blood stream (normal saline) of different velocities (0.19 ml/sec, 1.5 ml/sec, 2.1 ml/sec, and 2.6 ml/sec) by using dialysis were made. Cross-examinations were performed for 3D-SPACE T2 and TOF-MRA (16 times each). The accuracy of measurement for length of stenosis was compared in all experimental conditions. 3D-SPACE 2T has superiority in terms of accuracy for measurements of the length of stenosis, compared with TOF-MRA. Also, it is robust in fast blood stream and large stenosis than TOF-MRA. 3D-SPACE 2T will be promising technique to increase diagnosis accuracy in narrow complex lesions as like two cerebral small vessels with stenosis, created by hemodynamic turbulence.

• The Journal of Korean Institute of Communications and Information Sciences
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• v.38C no.9
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• pp.822-829
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• 2013

Hypertension is one of the most common clinical diseases, with an increasing prevalence globally. Hypertension triggers various harmful consequences and affects multiple organs. Life-long care may be required in some cases. According to the Korea Center for Disease Control and Prevention, the prevalence of hypertension is gradually increasing. A 2011 survey revealed that 28.9% of Korean adults had hypertension. The prevalence rates were slightly higher among men than women. Accurate measurement of blood pressure(BP) is crucial to classify patients, to identify BP-related risks, and to inform correct treatment. For accurate blood pressure measurement, the use of a cuff bladder size appropriate for the mid-upper arm circumference(MUAC) is essential. Incorrect sized cuff bladder is one of the main causes of equipment error affecting sphygmomanometer accuracy. When commercial sphygmomanometers were examined, the cuff bladders differed from the dimensions specified in the ISO 81060-1:2007 standards. Undercuffing is responsible for a spurious overestimation of BP in patients with large arms leading to overdiagnosis of hypertension, whereas overcuffing (that is, use of relatively large cuffs with small arms), may be responsible for an opposite problem, leading to erroneous underestimation of BP levels. The cuff bladder sizes recommended by the American Heart Association(AHA) are an arm circumference(AC) of 17-25 cm for small-sized adults, AC of 24-32 cm for adults, AC of 32-42 cm for normal-sized adults, and AC of 42-50 cm for obese adults. In contrast, the AC of Korean adults ranges from 23-31 cm, belonging to a single type of adult bladder. Three types of bladders are necessary for Korean adults with an AC of 23-31cm. Hospitals often use one or two differently-sized Western cuffs for adult patients, which can yield inaccurate BP determinations. Cuff bladders with dimensions based on anthropometric reference data obtained from Koreans will aid hospitals to measure BP more accurately.

• Journal of Dental Rehabilitation and Applied Science
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.183-195
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• 2020

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to compare the flexural strength of CAD/CAM denture base resins with conventional denture base resins based on their thicknesses. Materials and Methods: For the conventional denture base resins, Lucitone 199^® (C-LC) was used. DIOnavi - Denture (P-DO) and DENTCA Denture Base II (P-DC) were taken for the 3D printing denture base resins. For the prepolymerized PMMA resins, Vipi Block Gum (M-VP) and M-IVoBase^® CAD (M-IV) were used. The final dimensions of the specimens were 65.0 mm x 12.7 mm x 1.6 mm / 2.0 mm / 2.5 mm. The 3-point bend test was implemented to measure the flexural strength and flexural modulus. Microscopic evaluation of surface of fractured specimen was conducted by using a scanning electron microscope (SEM). After testing the normality of the data, one-way ANOVA was adopted to evaluate the differences among sample groups with a significance level of P = 0.05. The Tukey HSD test was performed for post hoc analysis. Results: Under the same thicknesses, there are significant differences in flexural strength between CAD/CAM denture base resins and conventional denture base resins except for P-DO and C-LC. M-VP showed higher flexural strength than conventional denture base resins, P-DC and M-IV displayed lower flexural strength than conventional denture base resins. Flexural modulus was highest in M-VP, followed by C-LC, P-DO, P-DC, M-IV, significant differences were found between all materials. In the comparison of flexural strength according to thickness, flexural strength of 2.5 mm was significantly higher than that of 1.6 mm in C-LC. Flexural strength of 2.5 mm and 2.0 mm was significantly higher than that of 1.6 mm in P-DC and M-VP. In M-IV, as the thickness increases, significant increase in flexural strength appeared. SEM analysis illustrates different fracture surfaces of the specimens. Conclusion: The flexural strength of different CAD/CAM denture base resins used in this study varied according to the composition and properties of each material. The flexural strength of CAD/CAM denture base resins was higher than the standard suggested by ISO 20795-1:2013 at a thickness of 1.6 mm or more though the thickness decreased. However, for clinical use of dentures with lower thickness, further researches should be done regarding other properties at lower thickness of denture base resins.