• Atmosphere
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.55-67
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• 2024

This paper aims to provide a detailed introduction to the concept of the Ratio of Predictable Component (RPC) and the Signal-to-Noise Paradox. Then, we derive insights from them by exploring the paradoxical features by conducting a seasonal and regional analysis through ensemble expansion in KMA's climate prediction system (GloSea). We also provide an explanation of the ensemble generation method, with a specific focus on stochastic physics. Through this study, we can provide the predictability limits of our forecasting system, and find way to enhance it. On a global scale, RPC reaches a value of 1 when the ensemble is expanded to a maximum of 56 members, underlining the significance of ensemble expansion in the climate prediction system. The feature indicating RPC paradoxically exceeding 1 becomes particularly evident in the winter North Atlantic and the summer North Pacific. In the Siberian Continent, predictability is notably low, persisting even as the ensemble size increases. This region, characterized by a low RPC, is considered challenging for making reliable predictions, highlighting the need for further improvement in the model and initialization processes related to land processes. In contrast, the tropical ocean demonstrates robust predictability while maintaining an RPC of 1. Through this study, we have brought to attention the limitations of potential predictability within the climate prediction system, emphasizing the necessity of leveraging predictable signals with high RPC values. We also underscore the importance of continuous efforts aimed at improving models and initializations to overcome these limitations.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.24 no.7
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• pp.681-689
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• 2023

Objective: Three-dimensional rotational angiography (3D-RA) is increasingly used for the evaluation of intracranial aneurysms (IAs); however, radiation exposure to the lens is a concern. We investigated the effect of head off-centering by adjusting table height on the lens dose during 3D-RA and its feasibility in patient examination. Materials and Methods: The effect of head off-centering during 3D-RA on the lens radiation dose at various table heights was investigated using a RANDO head phantom (Alderson Research Labs). We prospectively enrolled 20 patients (58.0 ± 9.4 years) with IAs who were scheduled to undergo bilateral 3D-RA. In all patients' 3D-RA, the lens dose-reduction protocol involving elevation of the examination table was applied to one internal carotid artery, and the conventional protocol was applied to the other. The lens dose was measured using photoluminescent glass dosimeters (GD-352M, AGC Techno Glass Co., LTD), and radiation dose metrics were compared between the two protocols. Image quality was quantitatively analyzed using source images for image noise, signal-to-noise ratio, and contrast-to-noise ratio. Additionally, three reviewers qualitatively assessed the image quality using a five-point Likert scale. Results: The phantom study showed that the lens dose was reduced by an average of 38% per 1 cm increase in table height. In the patient study, the dose-reduction protocol (elevating the table height by an average of 2.3 cm) led to an 83% reduction in the median dose from 4.65 mGy to 0.79 mGy (P < 0.001). There were no significant differences between dose-reduction and conventional protocols in the kerma area product (7.34 vs. 7.40 Gy·cm², P = 0.892), air kerma (75.7 vs. 75.1 mGy, P = 0.872), and image quality. Conclusion: The lens radiation dose was significantly affected by table height adjustment during 3D-RA. Intentional head off-centering by elevation of the table is a simple and effective way to reduce the lens dose in clinical practice.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.21 no.10
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• pp.1165-1177
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• 2020

Objective: To assess the feasibility of applying a deep learning-based denoising technique to coronary CT angiography (CCTA) along with iterative reconstruction for additional noise reduction. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively enrolled 82 consecutive patients (male:female = 60:22; mean age, 67.0 ± 10.8 years) who had undergone both CCTA and invasive coronary artery angiography from March 2017 to June 2018. All included patients underwent CCTA with iterative reconstruction (ADMIRE level 3, Siemens Healthineers). We developed a deep learning based denoising technique (ClariCT.AI, ClariPI), which was based on a modified U-net type convolutional neural net model designed to predict the possible occurrence of low-dose noise in the originals. Denoised images were obtained by subtracting the predicted noise from the originals. Image noise, CT attenuation, signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) were objectively calculated. The edge rise distance (ERD) was measured as an indicator of image sharpness. Two blinded readers subjectively graded the image quality using a 5-point scale. Diagnostic performance of the CCTA was evaluated based on the presence or absence of significant stenosis (≥ 50% lumen reduction). Results: Objective image qualities (original vs. denoised: image noise, 67.22 ± 25.74 vs. 52.64 ± 27.40; SNR [left main], 21.91 ± 6.38 vs. 30.35 ± 10.46; CNR [left main], 23.24 ± 6.52 vs. 31.93 ± 10.72; all p < 0.001) and subjective image quality (2.45 ± 0.62 vs. 3.65 ± 0.60, p < 0.001) improved significantly in the denoised images. The average ERDs of the denoised images were significantly smaller than those of originals (0.98 ± 0.08 vs. 0.09 ± 0.08, p < 0.001). With regard to diagnostic accuracy, no significant differences were observed among paired comparisons. Conclusion: Application of the deep learning technique along with iterative reconstruction can enhance the noise reduction performance with a significant improvement in objective and subjective image qualities of CCTA images.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.25 no.10
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• pp.913-923
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• 2024

Objective: To prospectively compare single-shot (SS) echo-planar imaging (EPI) and field-of-view optimized and constrained undistorted single-shot multiplexed sensitivity-encoding (FOCUS MUSE) for diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) in evaluating thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy (TAO). Materials and Methods: SS EPI and FOCUS MUSE DWIs were obtained from 39 patients with TAO (18 male; mean ± standard deviation: 48.3 ± 13.3 years) and 26 healthy controls (9 male; mean ± standard deviation: 43.0 ± 18.5 years). Two radiologists scored the visual image quality using a 4-point Likert scale. The image quality score, signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR), and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) of extraocular muscles (EOMs) were compared between the two DWIs. Differences in the ADC of EOMs were also evaluated. The performance of discriminating active from inactive TAO was assessed using receiver operating characteristic curves. The correlation between ADC and clinical activity score (CAS) was analyzed using Spearman correlation. Results: Compared with SS EPI DWI, FOCUS MUSE DWI demonstrated significantly higher image quality scores (P < 0.001), a higher SNR and CNR on the lateral rectus muscle (LRM) and medial rectus muscle (MRM) (P < 0.05), and a non-significant difference in the ADC of the LRM and MRM. Active TAO showed higher ADC than inactive TAO and healthy controls with both SS EPI and FOCUS MUSE DWIs (P < 0.001). Inactive TAO and healthy controls did not show a significant ADC difference with both DWIs. Compared with SS EPI DWI, FOCUS MUSE DWI demonstrated better discrimination of active from inactive TAO (AUC: 0.925 vs. 0.779; P = 0.007). The ADC was significantly correlated with CAS in SS EPI DWI (r = 0.391, P < 0.001) and FOCUS MUSE DWI (r = 0.645, P < 0.001). Conclusion: FOCUS MUSE DWI provides better images for evaluating EOMs and better performance in diagnosing active TAO than SS EPI DWI. The application of FOCUS MUSE will facilitate the DWI evaluation of TAO.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.14-26
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• 2024

This study investigated the effectiveness of calcium polysulfide (CPS; CaS_x) injection for the in-situ immobilization of cadmium and zinc-contaminated groundwater. The research focused on the impact of CPS injection on groundwater quality parameters, such as dissolved oxygen (DO), oxidation-reduction potential (ORP), and pH, as well as heavy metal precipitate formation and aquifer's microbial community dynamics on a field scale. The results demonstrated that the injected CPS formed a reactive zone, effectively reducing cadmium and zinc concentrations for a limited period. However, contaminant rebound occurred over time, necessitating repeated CPS injections. A single injection of CPS achieved a removal efficiency of 70~99%, lasting approximately 20 days. In contrast, repeated injections sustained the removal effects up to 37 days. Chemical analyses confirmed the precipitation of cadmium and zinc sulfide (CdS and ZnS), which remained stable in the aquifer even 86 days post-injection. Elemental sulfur (S) was detected in a significant quantity, contributing to the observed low DO levels. Microbial community exhibited a shift from an initial prevalence of sulfur-oxidizing and iron-oxidizing bacteria to a later dominance of sulfate-reducing bacteria following the cessation of high DO recycled water inflow, potentially enhancing the formation of CdS and ZnS.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.18 no.6
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• pp.639-650
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• 2024

This study developed a metal filter and shielding device using FDM-based 3D printing to reduce the radiation exposure of the operator to the reproductive organs during C-arm-guided nerve blocking. Three filters made of copper (Cu), aluminum (Al), and nickel (Ni) were combined with a copper filament housing to create a composite shielding device. When the dose measurements were compared with and without the filter at 60, 80, and 100 kVp, Filter A 45%, Filter B 63%, and Filter C showed a high dose reduction rate of 74%. image quality was evaluated quantitatively Contrast to Noise Ratio (CNR), Signal to Noise Ratio (SNR) and qualitatively (Likert scale), and although there was a slight decrease due to the use of the filter, the clinical impact was minimal. The developed filter effectively reduces operator radiation exposure during C-arm-guided nerve blocking, and the C filter shows high practicality and dose reduction ability. The implementation of these filters is expected to contribute to enhancing the operator's safety and minimizing radiation exposure.

• The korean journal of orthodontics
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• v.32 no.4 s.93
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• pp.235-240
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• 2002

Surgical-orthodontic treatment is an increasingly more common dental procedure whose unique psycho-social or psychological feature has not been fairly quantified objectively. Since the treatment of a surgical-orthodontic (or orthodontic) patient is part science and part art, a subjective recognition of a patient about his or her own treatment may be more important than technical success during and after treatment. Therefore, the knowledge of the patient's underlying psychological status could be useful in the prediction of patient's response to surgical-orthodontic (or orthodontic) treatment. The purpose of this study was to investigate and evaluate the psychological difference between conventional orthodontic patient and surgical-orthodontic patient by using locus of control (LOC) examination. Locus of control scale has been proven to be extremely useful in the prediction of a variety of human behaviors. Two types of locus of control data (I-score, Internal locus of control score : I-score, External locus of control score) were obtained for 42 surgical-orthodontic patients and randomly selected 42 conventional orthodontic patients (as a control group) matched for age and gender. No statistically significant difference was observed in the scale of internal and external locus of control between the groups of surgical-orthodontic patients and conventional orthodontic patients. However, in the group of surgical-orthodontic patients, males showed lower E-score (external locus of control score, higher internal locus of control tendency) than females. The results of this study suggested that the psychological background of surgical-orthodontic patients, in contrast with that of cosmetic surgery patients, has a similar disposition with that of orthodontic patients.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.213-224
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• 1994

Several isotopomers of cyclooctanone were prepared by selective deuterium substitution. Intrinsic isotope effects on $^{13}C$ NMR chemical shifts of these isotopomers were investigated systematically at low temperature. These istope effects were discussed in relation to the preferred boat-chair conformation of cyclooctanone. Deuterium isotope effects on NMR chemical shifts have been known for a long time. Especially in a conformationally mobile molecule, isotope perturbation could affect NMR signals through a combination of isotope effects on equilibria and intrinsic effects. The distinction between intrinsic and nonintrinsic effects is quite difficult at ambient temperature due to involvement of both equilibrium and intrinsic isotope effects. However if equilibria between possible conformers of cyclooctanone are slowed down enough on the NMR time scale by lowering temperature, it should be possible to measure intrinsic isotope shifts from the separated signals at low temperature. $^{13}C$ NMR has been successfully utilized in the study on molecular conformation in solution when one deals with stable conformers or molecules were rapid interconversion occurs at ambient temperature. The study of dynamic processes in general requires analysis of spectra at several temperature. Anet et al. did $^1H$ NMR study of cyclooctanone at low temperature to freeze out a stable conformation, but were not able initially to deduce which conformation was stable because of the complexity of alkyl region in the $^1H$ NMR spectrum. They also reported the $^1H$ and $^{13}C$ NMR spectra of the $C_9-C_{16}$ cycloalkanones with changing temperature from $-80^{\circ}C$ to $-170^{\circ}C$, but they did not report a variable temperature $^{13}C$ NMR study of cyclooctanone. For the analysis of the intrinsic isotope effect with relation to cylooctanone conformation, $^{13}C$ NMR spectra are obtained in the present work at low temperatures (up to $-150^{\circ}C$) in order to find the chemical shifts at the temperature at which the dynamic process can be "frozen-out" on the NMR time scale and cyclooctanone can be observed as a stable conformation. Both the ring inversion and pseudorotational processes must be "frozen-out" in order to see separate resonances for all eight carbons in cyclooctanone. In contrast to $^1H$ spectra, slowing down just the ring inversion process has no apparent effects on the $^{13}C$ spectra because exchange of environments within the pairs of methylene carbons can still occur by the pseudorotational process. Several isotopomers of cyclooctanone were prepared by selective deuterium substitution (fig. 1) : complete deuterium labeling at C-2 and C-8 positions gave cyclooctanone-2, 2, 8, $8-D_4$ : complete labeling at C-2 and C-7 positions afforded the 2, 2, 7, $7-D_4$ isotopomer : di-deuteration at C-3 gave the 3, $3-D_2$ isotopomer : mono-deuteration provided cyclooctanone-2-D, 4-D and 5-D isotopomers : and partial deuteration on the C-2 and C-8 position, with a chiral and difunctional case catalyst, gave the trans-2, $8-D_2$ isotopomer. These isotopomer were investigated systematically in relation with cyclooctanone conformation and intrinsic isotope effects on $^{13}C$ NMR chemical shifts at low temperature. The determination of the intrinsic effects could help in the analysis of the more complex effects at higher temperature. For quantitative analysis of intrinsic isotope effects, the $^{13}C$ NMR spectrum has been obtained for a mixture of the labeled and unlabeled compounds because the signal separations are very small.

• The Journal of Industrial Distribution & Business
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.39-45
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• 2011

The Korean distribution industry is gearing up for an endless competition. Greeting low growth era, less competitive parties will be challanged seriously for their survival. But for large discount stores, they have shown steady annual growth for years. However, because of the saturation for numbers of stores, the difficulty of gaining new sites, and the changes in the consumer's consumption behavior caused by the recession, now they are seeking for a new customers-based business formats. Accordingly, a large corporate comopanies made supermarkets which are belonged to affiliated companies of large corporate comopanies. They based on the strong buying power, focused on SSM(Super Super Market) ave been aggressively develop nationwide multi-stores. The point is that these stores are threatening at small and medium-sized, community-based private supermarkets. Private supermarkets and retailers, who are using existing old operation systems and their dilapidated facilities, are losing a competitive edge in business. Recent the social effects of large series of corporate supermarkets for traditional markets has been very controversial, and commercial media, academia, and industry associated with it have been held many seminars and public hearings. This may slow down the speed in accordance with the regulations, but will not be the crucial alternative. The reason for this recent surge of enterprise-class SSM up, one of the reasons is a stagnation in their offline discount mart, so they are finding new growth areas. Already in the form of large supermarkets across the country got most of the geographical centre point and is saturated with stages. Targeting small businesses that do not cover discount Mart, in order to expand business in the form of SSM is urgent. By contrast, private supermarkets are going to lose their competitiveness. The vulnerability of individual supermarkets, one of the vulnerabilities is price which economies of scale can not be realized so they are purchasing a small amount of products and difficult to get a quantity discount. The lack of organization and collaboration, and education which is not practical, caused the absencer of service-oriented situations. As a first solution, making specialty shops which are handling agricultures, fruits and vegetables and manufactured goods is recommended. Second, private supermarkets franchisees join the organization for the organization and collaboration is recomaned. It can be meet the scale of economy and can be formed a alternative business formats to a government. Third, the education is needed as a good service will get consumer's awareness. In addition, a psychological stores operating is also one way to stimulate consumer sentiment as SSM can't operate. Japan already has a better conditions of their lives through small chain expression. This study includes the vulnerabilities of private supermarkets, and suggests a competitiveness reinforcement strategies.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.27-40
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• 2010

Background and Objective : Increasing interest in anti-aging and anti-wrinkling agents for the skin has triggered the recent outflow of researches and studies in this field. This study was designed to investigate the effects of bee venom on skin wrinkling and skin aging by testing the skin wrinkling, skin elasticity, trans-epidermal water loss (TEWL), free radical level, anti-oxidative agent level, and skin tissue after infusion of bee venom on hairless mouse. Materials and Methods : Fifteen hairless mice aged between 36~40 weeks were divided randomly into 3 Group; the Bee Venom Syringe Group, the Bee Venom Needle Group, and the control group. The Bee Venom Syringe Group were injected subcutaneously with bee venom (0.1cc in total) using an insulin syringe on three spots in the lumbar spine (one spot on the center and two spots 1~2cm to the side bilaterally). The Bee Venom Needle Group were pricked with bee venom-smeared acupuncture needles on three longitudinal spots in the lumbar spine each 1cm apart, after which the needles were removed 10 minutes later. The Control Group did not receive any form of intervention. All procedures took place thrice a week for four weeks, during which the mice were allowed free access to water and fodder. The mice were measured and compared in the weight, skin wrinkling scale, skin elasticity, and TEWL before and after the experiment. After the experiment, blood samples were taken to measure the free radical and anti-oxidative agent level, and the skin tissue was sliced for examination. Data was analyzed using the SPSS program (ver 12.0). The ANOVA analysis was used to compare and contrast the three groups, and t-test for paired samples was used to evaluate skin-wrinkling before and after experiment. The cut-off p-value of significance was set at p<0.05. Results : 1. Administration of bee venom did not cause serious weight loss or gain. 2. Compared to the control group, the Bee Venom Syringe Group and the Bee Venom Needle Group both showed a decrease in skin wrinkling scale after intervention. Especially, the Bee Venom Syringe Group showed a significant decrease (p<0.05). 3. Compared to the control group, the Bee Venom Syringe Group and the Bee Venom Needle Group both showed an increase in skin elasticity. Especially, the Bee Venom Syringe Group showed a significant increase (p<0.05). 4. No significant change in TEWL was found in the mice in all the three groups before and after experiment. 5. Free radical level was normal in all 15 mice in all the three groups, and anti-oxidative agent was not significantly different across the three groups. 6. The Bee Venom Syringe Group, the Bee Venom Needle Group, and the control group did not show any significant difference in the thickness of epidermis and dermis, infiltration of inflammatory cells, and skin wrinkling. The epidermis layer was relatively better preserved in the Bee Venom Syringe Group as compared to the Bee Venom Needle Group and the control group. Conclusion : Direct injection of bee venom on the hairless mouse using a syringe was found to improve wrinkling of the skin and increase skin elasticity but did not show effectiveness on skin dryness due to water loss. The bee venom appears to have suppressive effects on skin wrinkling, one of the symptoms of skin aging, through a process independent of suppression of free radicals or increase of anti-oxidative agent.