• Journal of Life Science
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.524-529
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• 2019

Medicinal plants resources are becoming important assets since their usages have been expanded to the development of functional foods for human health, cosmetics and pharmaceutical industries. However, their phylogenetic origins and names are different from each country and quite often they are mixed each other resulting in the confusion for consumers. Particularly when they are very similar based on their morphological characteristics and distributed, it is extremely difficult to differentiate their origins even by specialists. Therefore, identification of each plant species is important for standardizing herbal medicine. Thistle is a medicinal and perennial plant. Obtaining information about the genetic diversity of plant populations is highly important for conservation and germplasm utilization. Although thistle is an important medicinal plant species registered in South Korea, no molecular markers are currently available to distinguish from other similar species from different countries. In this study, we developed single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers derived from chloroplast genomic sequences to identify distinct Korean-specific thistle species via high resolution melting (HRM) curve analyses. We performed molecular authentication of four different kinds of thistle species from different regions using DNA sequences in the trnL-F and matK chloroplast intergenic region. The SNP markers developed in this study are useful for rapidly identifying specific thistle species from different country.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.125-139
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• 2021

This study identifies the trend of Korean accounting researches on profit adjustment. We analyzed the abstract of accounting research articles published in Korean Citation Index (KCI) by using text mining technique. Among papers whose themes were profit adjustment, topics were divided into 4 parts: (i) Auditing and audit reports, (ii) corporate taxes and debt ratios, (iii) general management strategy of companies, and (iv) financial statements and accounting principles. Unlike the prediction that financial statements and accounting principles would be the main topic, auditing was analyzed as the most studied area. We analyzed topic trends based on the number of papers by topic, and could figure out the impact of K-IFRS introduction on profit adjustment research. By using Big Data method, this study enabled the division of research themes that have not been available in the past studies. This study enables the policy makers and business managers to learn about additional considerations in addition to accounting principles related to profit adjustment.

• Journal of the Korean BIBLIA Society for library and Information Science
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.391-413
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• 2021

Policy study information is the essential source of information in every step of decision making process to plan, execute and assess the national operation policy. The policy study subject of a national policy research center from study design the performance assessment on its practical effect is managed via thorough process to secure its effectiveness and efficiency. However, the directly exposed information to the practical user or the public who are in need of actual policy study information is the resource published in a form of policy study report, the final result. NKIS operated by the National Research Council for Economics, Humanities and Social Sciences under the Office for Government Policy Coordination, Prime Minister's Secretariat is a public information offering service that conduct integrated management on study reports from cooperative study among institutes along with policy outcome from 27 national policy research centers. This study aims to introduce the current status of operation and information management of NKIS, apprehend the management characteristics of policy study information resources of national policy research center, and deduce remarks that need to be considered for API with external service for the derivation of standardized sharing data element.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.256-262
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• 2022

Oxysterols are oxygenated metabolites of cholesterol generated by serial enzymatic reactions during bile acid synthesis. Similar to cholesterol, oxysterols move rapidly to the intracellular region and modulate various cellular processes, such as immune cell responses, lipid metabolism, and cholesterol homeostasis. Different nuclear transcription factors, such as glucocorticoid, estrogen, and liver X receptors, can be modulated by oxysterols in multiple tissues. The most abundant oxysterol, 27-hydroxycholesterol (27-OHC), is a well-known selective modulator that can either activate or suppress estrogen receptor activity in a tissue-specific manner. The contribution of 27-OHC in atherosclerosis development is apparent because a large amount of it is found in atherosclerotic plaques, accelerating the transformation of macrophages into foam cells that uptake extracellular modified lipids. According to previous studies, however, there are opposing opinions about how 27-OHC affects lipid and cholesterol metabolism in metabolic organs, including the liver and adipose tissue. In particular, the effects of 27-OHC on lipid metabolism are entirely different between in vitro and in vivo conditions, suggesting that understanding the physiology of this oxysterol requires a sophisticated approach. This review summarizes the potential effects of 27-OHC in atherosclerosis and metabolic syndromes with a special discussion of its role in metabolic tissues.

• Journal of the Korean Orthopaedic Association
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• v.54 no.6
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• pp.509-518
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• 2019

Purpose: Lymph node metastasis is a very important prognostic factor for all skin cancers and some sarcomas. A sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy is the most useful technique for identifying SLNs. Recently, a new generation of diagnostic tools, such as single photon emission computed tomography/computed tomography (SPECT/CT) and positron emission tomography/CT (PET/CT) enabled the detection of SLNs. This study compared the efficacy of PET/CT for detecting lymph node metastases with a SLN biopsy in a single medical center. Materials and Methods: From 2008 to 2018, 72 skin cancers of sarcoma patients diagnosed with some lymph node involvement in a whole body PET/CT reading were assessed. Patients suspected of lymph node metastasis were sent to biopsy and those suspected to be reactive lesions were observed. The analysis was performed retrospectively using the medical records, clinical information, PET/CT readings, and pathology results. Results: The age of patients ranged from 14 to 88 years and the mean follow-up period was 2.4 years. Twenty-two patients were suspected of a lymph node metastasis and confirmed. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of PET/CT images in sarcoma and non-sarcoma tumors were increased significantly when the expert's findings were considered together. Conclusion: PET/CT is effective in detecting lymph node metastases.

• Journal of the Daesoon Academy of Sciences
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• v.21
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• pp.29-97
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• 2013

뇌법은 도교의 중요한 법술로서 당송(唐宋)이래 매우 흥했는데, 북송의 임영소 등이 신소파(神霄派)를 개창한 이후에 도교 법문을 대표하는 영역이 되었다. 그로부터 각종의 뇌법이 천하에 성행하였고, 도교에는 새로운 뇌신들이 거듭 나타나게 되었다. 그 대표적인 것이 뇌법신앙의 구진천존(九宸天尊)인데, 이 아홉 천존들은 도교의 최고신인 삼청성조(三清聖祖)의 통치 하에 있는 것으로 간주되었다. 『옥추보경』은 북송 때 탄생하였는데 이 경전이 세상에 널리 발간되어 구천응원뇌성보화천존에 대한 신앙이 형성된 것은 남송 시기 백옥섬(白玉蟾) 이후이다. 『옥추보경』은 구천응원뇌성보화천존의 법문(法門)을 선양하기 위한 방책으로 천존의 성호를 부를 것을 권장한다. 법문을 염송하는 것은 매우 쉽고도 간단하여 누구나 할 수 있었으므로 사회적으로 크게 확대되었다. 특히 『봉신연의』와 『서유기』와 같은 문예소설에 뇌성보화천존이 등장함으로 해서, 민중들은 뇌성보화천존을 더욱 널리 숭배하게 되었다. 현재도 중국의 민간에서 이 신격에 대한 신앙은 매우 보편적이다. 구천응원뇌성보화천존은 옥청진왕(玉清真王)의 화신(化身)이다. 뇌성보화천존은 시방에 그 형체를 나타내고, 중생들을 고뇌로부터 구제하고 이끈다. 36천을 주재할 권능이 있으며, 자비로운 모습으로 모든 겁에 응한다. 또 뇌성보화천존의 주변에는 뇌공(雷公), 우사(雨師), 풍백(風伯)을 비롯한 십대원사(十大元帥)와 등백온원사(鄧伯溫元帥), 신한신원사(辛漢臣元帥) 등의 신장들이 보인다. 이러한 신장들은 양송(兩宋) 시대에 출현하였으며 대다수가 뇌부의 제신들이다. 뇌성보화천존 신앙을 구현하기 위한 재초 의식에는 천지 제신(諸神)이 강림하기를 청하는 뇌정사과(雷霆謝過)와 죄를 뉘우치고 복을 비는 참의(懺儀) 또는 참회문식(懺悔文式) 등이 있다. 이런 법식들은 매우 전문적인 것이고, 일반인들에게는 법문을 염송하는 간편한 방법인 십자천경법(十字天經法)이 널리 퍼졌다. 즉 늘 경건한 마음으로 천존의 성호를 오랫동안 염송하게 되면 공덕원만(功德圓滿)의 경지에 도달할 수 있다는 것이다. 『옥추보경』은 민중의 세계에 깊은 영향을 끼치고 광범위하게 알려져 그 주해나 주석본만도 이십여 종에 이르렀고 송원 이래의 핵심적인 도교 문헌의 하나로 자리매김하였다. 『옥추보경』은 일본과 한국 등지에도 급속히 전파되었다. 한국에는 고려시대에 신소뇌법(神霄雷法)이 전해졌는데, 특히 고려 예종 13년(1118년) 7월에 중국 도교 의학이 고려에 전승되었을 때의 도교 의학이 『옥추보경』을 위주로 한 치료법이었다. 그리고 그 흔적은 조선의 허준이 주편한 『동의보감』에서도 찾아볼 수 있다. 조선의 민간에서는 많은 사람들이 『옥추보경』을 송독하였고 거기에 수록된 부록(符籙)을 운용하였으며 이로써 병을 몰아내고 잡귀를 물리쳐 생명을 지키기를 바랐다. 현대 한국에서는 구천응원뇌성보화천존강성상제에 대한 신앙이 크게 성행하고 있으니, 그 종단이 바로 대순진리회이다. 대순진리회는 증산 성사께서 인세에 강림하시기 전에 구천대원조화주신이며, 화천 후 구천응원뇌성보화천존상제의 위에 임하였다고 신앙한다. 즉 증산이 천존상제의 화신이라 믿는 것이다. 이것과는 좀 다르지만, 인간이 신의 화신이 되는 신성한 변화를 뇌법에서는 '변신(變神)'이라고 부른다. 변신은 내련(內煉)을 행할 때나 시법(施法)시에 도인들이 필히 진입해야 할 특이한 정신 상태로서, 자아의 존재를 망각하고 신진(神真)으로 변화하여 인신합일(人神合一)을 이루는 것을 의미한다. 이러한 변신은 대순진리회의 수도 목적인 도통과도 한편으로는 유사한 면이 있다고 생각된다. 대순진리회가 목적하는 지상신선실현이 의미하는 것은, 사람이 도를 깨닫는 노력을 통해 신의 경지에 도달하는 것이 아니라 인간의 본질과 천성을 회복하여 이에 상응하는 신과 합일하는 것이라는 점에서 뇌법의 변신과 유사한 점이 있다고 할 것이며 이에 대해서는 추후 연구과제로 남겨둔다.

• Sleep Medicine and Psychophysiology
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.22-27
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• 2023

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to develop a screening tool that is simple and easy to use for assessing sleep problems, including hypersomnolence, restless legs syndrome, and insomnia. We also examined the reliability and validity of this tool. Methods: We developed the Sleep Problem Screening Questionnaire (SPSQ), which consists of three sub-sections: insomnia (SPSQi), hypersomnolence (SPSQh), and restless legs syndrome (SPSQr). Subsequently, the participants, consisting of 222 patients with insomnia disorder and 78 healthy individuals, completed both the SPSQ and the comparative scale (Korean version of the Insomnia Severity Index). The analysis was then conducted using this data. Results: The SPSQ demonstrated good convergent and discriminant validity, as well as satisfactory internal consistency. A cutoff score of 6 on the SPSQi was found to be optimal for distinguishing individuals with insomnia. Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that the SPSQ is a reliable and valid tool for screening sleep problems among general adult population. However, there is a limitation as a comparison and validation with scales related to restless legs syndrome and hypersomnolence were not conducted.

• Research in Plant Disease
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.165-175
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• 2024

The Korean fir tree (Abies koreana), an endemic species of South Korea, is experiencing a severe decline in population due to climate change. Studies on the conservation of Korean fir have been extensive, yet research regarding its correlation with rhizosphere bacterial communities remains scarce, warranting further investigation. In this study, metagenome amplicon sequencing targeting the 16S rRNA V4 region was conducted to examine the presence of specific bacterial communities in Korean fir and to investigate potential differences based on habitat types (rhizosphere of native or cultivated trees, soil of dead trees, and bulk soil) and seasonal variations (April, June, September, November). Here we show that although we could not identify specific taxa highly specifically with Korean fir, the rhizosphere bacterial community in native trees exhibited less variability in response to seasonal changes compared to that in bulk soils. Suggesting the establishment of relatively stable bacterial populations around the Korean fir natural habitat. Further research on other types of rhizosphere and/or microbes is necessary to investigate the distinct relationship of Korean fir with microbial communities.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.82 no.1
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• pp.116-127
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• 2021

Purpose To evaluate the feasibility of texture analysis of gray-scale ultrasound (US) images for staging of hepatic fibrosis. Materials and Methods Altogether, 167 patients who had undergone routine US and laboratory tests for a fibrosis-4 (FIB-4) index were included. Texture parameters were measured using a dedicated in-house software. Regions of interest were placed in five different segments (3, 5, 6, 7, 8) for each patient. The FIB-4 index was used as the reference standard for hepatic fibrosis grade. Comparisons of the texture parameters between different fibrosis groups were performed with the Student's t-test or Mann-Whitney U-test. Diagnostic performance was evaluated by receiver operating curve analysis. Results The study population comprised of patients with no fibrosis (FIB-4 < 1.45, n = 50), mild fibrosis (1.45 ≤ FIB-4 ≤ 2.35, n = 37), moderate fibrosis (2.35 < FIB-4 ≤ 3.25, n = 27), and severe fibrosis (FIB-4 > 3.25, n = 53). Skewness in hepatic segment 5 showed a difference between patients with no fibrosis and mild fibrosis (0.2392 ± 0.3361, 0.4134 ± 0.3004, respectively, p = 0.0109). The area under the curve of skewness for discriminating patients with no fibrosis from those with mild fibrosis was 0.660 (95% confidence interval, 0.551-0.758), with an estimated accuracy, sensitivity, specificity of 64%, 87%, 48%, respectively. Conclusion A significant difference was observed regarding skewness in segment 5 between patients with no fibrosis and patients with mild fibrosis.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.39 no.6
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• pp.421-429
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• 2005

Purpose: It has been postulated that dopamine release in the striatum underlies the reinforcing properties of nicotine. Substantial evidence in the animal studies demonstrates that nicotine interacts with dopaminergic neuron and regulates the activation of the dopaminergic system. The aim of this study was to visualize the dopamine release by smoking in human brain using PET scan with $[^{11}C]raclopride$. Materials and Methods: Five male non-smokers or ex-smokers with an abstinence period longer than 1 year (mean age of $24.4{\pm}1.7$ years) were enrolled in this study $[^{11}C]raclopride$, a dopamine D2 receptor radioligand, was administrated with bolus-plus-constant infusion. Dynamic PET was performed during 120 minutes ($3{\times}20s,\;2{\times}60s,\;2{\times}120s,\;1{\times}180s\;and\;22{\times}300s$). following the 50 minute-scanning, subjects smoked a cigarette containing 1 mg of nicotine while in the scanner. Blood samples for the measurement of plasma nicotine level were collected at 0, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 45, 60, and 90 minute after smoking. Regions for striatal structures were drawn on the coronal summed PET images guided with co-registered MRI. Binding potential, calculated as (striatal-cerebellar)/cerebellar activity, was measured under equilibrium condition at baseline and smoking session. Results: The mean decrease in binding potential of $[^{11}C]raclopride$ between the baseline and smoking in caudate head, anterior putamen and ventral striatum was 4.7%, 4.0% and 7.8%, respectively. This indicated the striatal dopamine release by smoking. Of these, the reduction in binding potential in the ventral striatum was significantly correlated with the cumulated plasma level of the nicotine (Spearman's rho=0.9, p=0.04). Conclusion: These data demonstrate that in vivo imaging with $[^{11}C]raclopride$ PET could measure nicotine-induced dopamine release in the human brain, which has a significant positive correlation with the amount or nicotine administered bt smoking.