• The Journal of Korean Society for Radiation Therapy
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.109-114
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• 1996

PURPOSE : To investigate the effect of asymmetric jaws for delivering a uniform accurate dose of radiation to the junctions. METHODS & MATERIALS : A linear accelerator with a set of asymmetric jaws(varian 600C, 2100C, 2100CD with 4mev, 10mev, 10mev). Dose disribution was measured at the junctions with films in phantom. Total $10{\times}20cm^2$ with each $10{\times}10cm^2$ in deviation of ${\pm}1mm$ jaws. RESULTS : Film dosimetry showed the accuracy of asymmetric jaws depending on the machine. CONCLUSION : Understanding the mechanical characteristics of the use of half-beam at the junctions, without hot or cold regions.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.101-109
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• 2014

Matrix Metalloproteinases (MMP)-2 and -9 are participated in embryo development, implantation, remodeling of epithelial cell and ovulation. The objective of this study is to evaluate an impact of MMP2 and MMP9 on embryonic developmental competence as well as gene expression profiles of in vitro-produced bovine embryos. After in vitro fertilization, embryos of all groups were transferred into IVC-2 medium treated with MMP2 and MMP9 to check the optimum concentration on the basis of embryo development competence and cell numbers. The optimum concentrations for MMP2 and 9 were 1,200 ng/ml and 300 ng/ml. The blastocyst development competence was not different among 1,200 ng/ml of MMP2 vs. 300 ng/ml of MMP9 vs. combined MMP2 + 9 vs. control groups ($41.46{\pm}10.66$ vs. $37.73{\pm}8.92$ vs. $45.11{\pm}11.41%$ vs. $41.59{\pm}11.88$, respectively). Furthermore, the developmental competences to hatching and hatched blastocysts were not also different among the same groups ($79.84{\pm}12.63$ vs. $83.3{\pm}17.46$ vs. $78.55{\pm}14.48%$ vs. $72.02{\pm}14.09$). In addition, total cell number was significantly (p<0.05) greater in blastocyst treated with MMP9 300 ng/ml among all treatment groups. On the other hand, there was no significant difference of ICM vs. TE ratio in all groups. The expression of five out of six genes (i.e., MMP2, MMP9, IFNt, SSLP1 and HNRNPA2B1) was different among the groups. The expression of IFNt and HNRNPA2B1 genes was significantly greater in MMP9 (p<0.05), but there was no difference of MMP9 expression between MMP2 and MMP9 group (p>0.05). The normalized expression of MMP2 and SSLP1 was greater in MMP2 than other groups (p<0.05). In conclusion, MMPs treatment during IVC-2 medium was remarkably effected on blastocyst developmental competence and gene expression profiles that are related to embryo quality and implantation.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.21 no.7
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• pp.675-684
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• 2020

To prevent safety accidents caused by aging pipe infrastructure and to maintain water quality, construction projects for water and sewage pipes are actively conducted across Korea. This study analyzed the criteria situations, site survey details, and regulation revisions related to the calculation of construction cost standards for pipe laying and joining work. The analysis showed that the major causes for revision are the unclear construction scope, limitations in implementing some pipe materials due to installation facility types, workforce focused on ordinary labor, limitations of manual laying work, and the lack of tool hire cost and machine expense-calculation criteria. Field studies were conducted to categorize the pipes according to their features, in addition to identifying the use of lifting heavy equipment and light equipment. In addition, excavation and testing work conducted in connection to pipe laying, as well as the use of skilled labor, were investigated. The current study clarified the work scope through new common items, provides an organization based on the pipe material, adjusted the workforce ratio to focus more on skilled labor, and developed grounds for calculating machine expenses. These revisions were estimated to save approximately 1.28% of the construction costs in each project according to an analysis of the construction cost impact study. truction costs in each project, according to an analysis of construction cost impact study.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.315-324
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• 2016

Human cardiac fibroblasts (HCFs) have various voltage-dependent $K^+$ channels (VDKCs) that can induce apoptosis. Hydrogen peroxide ($H_2O_2$) modulates VDKCs and induces oxidative stress, which is the main contributor to cardiac injury and cardiac remodeling. We investigated whether $H_2O_2$ could modulate VDKCs in HCFs and induce cell injury through this process. In whole-cell mode patch-clamp recordings, application of $H_2O_2$ stimulated $Ca^{2+}-activated$ $K^+$ ($K_{Ca}$) currents but not delayed rectifier $K^+$ or transient outward $K^+$ currents, all of which are VDKCs. $H_2O_2-stimulated$ $K_{Ca}$ currents were blocked by iberiotoxin (IbTX, a large conductance $K_{Ca}$ blocker). The $H_2O_2-stimulating$ effect on large-conductance $K_{Ca}$ ($BK_{Ca}$) currents was also blocked by KT5823 (a protein kinase G inhibitor) and 1 H-[1, 2, 4] oxadiazolo-[4, 3-a] quinoxalin-1-one (ODQ, a soluble guanylate cyclase inhibitor). In addition, 8-bromo-cyclic guanosine 3', 5'-monophosphate (8-Br-cGMP) stimulated $BK_{Ca}$ currents. In contrast, KT5720 and H-89 (protein kinase A inhibitors) did not block the $H_2O_2-stimulating$ effect on $BK_{Ca}$ currents. Using RT-PCR and western blot analysis, three subtypes of $K_{Ca}$ channels were detected in HCFs: $BK_{Ca}$ channels, small-conductance $K_{Ca}$ ($SK_{Ca}$) channels, and intermediate-conductance $K_{Ca}$ ($IK_{Ca}$) channels. In the annexin V/propidium iodide assay, apoptotic changes in HCFs increased in response to $H_2O_2$, but IbTX decreased $H_2O_2$-induced apoptosis. These data suggest that among the VDKCs of HCFs, $H_2O_2$ only enhances $BK_{Ca}$ currents through the protein kinase G pathway but not the protein kinase A pathway, and is involved in cell injury through $BK_{Ca}$ channels.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.303-308
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• 2000

Male Sprague-Dawley rats received either a cholesterol diet (Control group) or cholesterol diets supplemented with the water-extracted of leaves from Morus alba (MA group) or Cudrania tricuspidata (CT group) at the level of 1% for 2 weeks. The concentration of serum triglyceride was significantly lower in the CT group and was also lower in the MA group than in the control group. The liver cholesterol concentration was significantly lower in the MA group than in the control group, but not significantly different between the CT group and the control group. The concentration of phospholipid in serum was an increasing tendency in the MA group and was a decreasing tendency in the CT group compared to that in the control group. Body weight gain, food intake, food efficiency, the concentrations of triglyceride and phospholipid in liver, and the total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol and glucose in serum were not significantly different among dietary groups. These results suggest that the water-extracted from leaves of Morus alba and Cudrania tricuspidata exerts a hypotriglycerolemic effect in the cholesterol-fed rats.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.21 no.8
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• pp.26-35
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• 2020

Tunnel construction is an important part of Korean public construction projects. Although the development of various equipment and technologies has led to advances in tunnel construction methods that are implemented on sites, the cost standards related to such works do not yet reflect the realities of the construction sites. A literature review and site surveys were conducted to suggest reasonable cost standards for tunnel work that reflects the realities of the field. First, each item in the cost standards for tunnel work, as established in the Construction Standard Production Rates, were analyzed. The results were compared with the actual costs implemented on tunnel projects. The key items analyzed included those regarding the work cycle time, such as rock classification, profiling survey, drilling speed, and muck-disposal processing equipment combination, as well as the number of people put to tunneling work. Based on the site survey results, improved estimates regarding the cycle time per one tunnel drilling blast, drilling speed of the machine, muck disposal processing equipment combination, and the number of people put to tunneling work were suggested. This study suggests the cost standards that reflect the realities of tunneling sites. The results are expected to help ensure adequate costs for tunnel construction projects.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.34-47
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• 2010

Long-range transport of air pollutants was simulated using Comprehensive Acid Deposition Model (CADM) and Yonsei University-Sulfuric Acid Deposition Model (YU-SADM). For the simulation, weather patterns that represent the four seasons were derived through a clustering analysis with 5-years of meteorological data. The simulation result showed that in spring, influenced by strong low pressure from China, air pollutants of moved to the Korean Peninsula. In summer, humid air moved into the Korean Peninsula across the Yellow Sea while the north pacific high pressure extended, making the concentration of air pollutants lower than that in the other seasons. In autumn, air pollutants were transported by the northwest wind caused by the movement of high pressure over the Yellow Sea, while in winter air pollutants were influenced by northwest winds from continental highs. The amount of air pollutants in each season showed that high amount of pollutants were transported in winter due to the strong northwest wind. The in-flows were 3 to 8 times higher than those of the other seasons, and out-flows were about as twice as high. The amount of wet deposition in summer and autumn increased significantly compared to the amount in the other seasons due to the increase of rainfall. Source-receptor relationship analysis for sulfur showed that 70 to 91 precent of the total deposition came from the self-contribution by the Korean Peninsula. In winter, contribution from China was about 25 percent of the total deposition which was higher amount than any other season.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.268-275
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• 2000

We investigated the effect of polymer sublayer on volumetric resistivity and tensile strength of carbon fiber (CF)/polyethylene composite films fabricated under high intensity electric fields. The dependence of volumetric resistivity and tensile strength of the films on the polymer sublayer thickness or mass part exhibited complex behavior according to CF content and CF layer density in the films. As the thickness of polymer sublayer increases, two groups of processes at thermo-mechanical forming stage would take effects in the properties of the films. The first group comprises the increase of polymer layer thickness having reduced CF content compared with central or upper part of the film and insufficient wetting of CF resulting in the loosened structure near upper film side. The second group, on the other hand, is the improvement of mobility of molten sublayer leading to better distribution of CF throughout the film thickness and the formation of more compact structure. The different degree of contribution of these two competing processes at varied CF content and CF layer density could explain complex dependence of the film properties on the polymer sublayer. These results are important to optimize the electrical and mechanical properties of highly conductive polymer films, which can be used as electromagnetic interference shielding materials.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.505-511
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• 2007

Poly(lactide-co-glycolide)(PLGA) and hyaluronic acid (HA) has been widely used as biocompatible scaffold materials to regenerate tissue. In this present study, we fabricated microporous PLGA and HA loaded PLGA scaffolds by a emusion freeze-drying method. In order to confirm that the release profile of cytokine or water-soluble drugs, we manufactured the granulocyte macrophage colony stimulating factor(GM-CSF) loaded PLGA and HA-PLGA scaffold. All scaffolds were characterized using scanning electron microscope(SEM), mercury porosimeter and wettability measurement. Cell proliferation and viability were assessed by a 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazole-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium-bromide (MTT) test. The porosity of HA-PLGA scaffold was greater than 95% with the total pore area of $261\;m^2/g$. The HA-FLGA scaffold exhibited well interconnected pores to allow greater cell adhesion and prolixferation. It was proven by higher cell viability in the HA-PLGA scaffold than PLGA alone. This may be due to the enhanced natural properties and higher water retention capacity of HA.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.437-440
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• 2010

Cardiac mesotheliomas are rare. It is difficult to diagnose them at an early stage because the symptoms are nonspecific. Here we report two cases that had been initially diagnosed as constrictive pericarditis but later were definitively diagnosed, after pericardiectomy, as mesothelioma. The two patients complained of dyspnea that lasted 4 months and 10 years. Chest CT showed mild pericardial effusion and thickened pericardium, which was found enveloping the heart without any lumps. Median sternotomy showed that the overall pericardium was thickened by more than 10 mm. Pericardiectomy (phrenic nerve to phrenic nerve) was performed and post-operative histology confirmed malignant mesothelioma. In one patient the disease recurred near the pericardium post-operatively at 7 months and the patient died at 11 months. The other patient received chemotherapy and was still alive at post-operative month 16. Pericardial mesothelioma is an extremely rare disease exhibiting clinical signs similar to those of constrictive pericarditis, and should be diagnosed at an early stage of onset.