• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.1 no.5
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• pp.467-475
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• 1997

Although one of the major physiological functions of taurine(2-aminoethanesulfonic acid) is the inhibitory action on the central nervous system(CNS), the mechanism of taurine in controlling the neuronal excitation in the CNS has been in controversy. Electrically evoked pEPSP and spontaneous activity induced by the perfusion of low $Mg^{++}-ACSF$ were recorded in the CA1 pyramidal cell layer of the hippocampal slice. To test the inhibitory effect of taurine on spontaneous responses, taurine was treated for 2 min at various concentrations(1 mM-10 mM). Taurine reduced the spontaneous activity by 22.2% at 1 mM, and 100% at 2 mM in low $Mg^{++}-ACSF$. Evoked response was induced by electrical stimulation of Schaffer collateral-commissural fibers. Taurine reduced the evoked response by 11.68% at 3 mM, and 24.25% at 5 mM. Even 20 mM of taurine reduced the evoked response only by 24 % after 5 min treatment. That is, the inhibitory efficacy was much higher in spontaneous activity than in evoked response. The $GABA_A$ receptor antagonist, 100 uM bicuculline, blocked the inhibitory action of taurine, while $GABA_B$ receptor antagonist, 700 uM phaclofen, did not. Taurine blocked the spontaneous activity in the presence of CNQX, and did not block the electrically evoked responce in the presence of APV. The results suggest that taurine causes hyperpolarization in the cell by binding to $GABA_A$ receptor and preferentially attenuates NMDA receptor-mediated hyperexcitation, leaving synaptic transmission unmodified.

• Proceedings of the Korea Contents Association Conference
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• 2009.05a
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• pp.559-566
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• 2009

The Capital punishment is a sentence which imposes the defendant to be put to death for his crime, thus depriving him/her of life and it's the heaviest punishment of all. It is a very sensitive issue in the sense that it denies a person's life and dignity. It is also an on-going issue which continues to cause political and ethical controversies. Although there is no direct stipulation acknowledging capital punishment in the constitution, there is controversy on the existence of indirect basis. The Art. 12. I. can not be regarded as an indirect provision if it is interpreted to have criminal punishments stipulated by written law. As the supreme Court and the Constitution Court are supporting the capital punishment which seems unconstitutional, legislative examination is inevitable. Considering the fact that the Constitution is neither for nor against the death penalty positively, it is possible to abolish it by enactment of a law and thus, constitutional amendment would not be needed.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.215-219
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• 2014

In Korean Cosmetic Act, four uses of functional cosmetics are recognized: skin whitening, anti-wrinkle, UV protection or suntan. Cosmeceuticals, one of the functional cosmetics, have been specifically developed for medical and cosmetic benefits. However, the uses of cosmeceuticals in patent applications are not limited to those of functional cosmetics, and the number is increasing with variety of medical use claims such as anti-inflammatory, prevention of hair loss, or obesity in cosmeceutical patent applications. Since some of the cosmeceutical use claims are not clearly distinguished from medical use claims in pharmaceuticals, there has been a controversy over the extent of granting patents regarding the medical use of cosmeceuticals. In this article, we have investigated the range of medical uses in patented claims of functional cosmetics, summarized examiners' views and discussed the examination practice of cosmetic-related inventions in the United States, Europe, and Japan.

• Journal of Fisheries and Marine Sciences Education
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.218-229
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• 2015

While promoting a variety of projects by using sea space, there has been a lot of social controversy among the stakeholders based on the results of the analysis. In particular, the benefits of fisheries sector were over-estimated and occurred a lot of opposition from fishermen and environment groups. In order to this solve, we have been studied focussed such as excavation of new projects, the method and result of the estimated benefits for fisheries sector. With regard to the tidal power plant of Garolim, we came up with five kinds of problems such as doing not reflect of the cost of the initial investment, over unit production, over unit price, excessive selection of breed, issues of cost of production in benefits study of fisheries sector derived previously. In order to these problems, we have derived new profitable projects based on the initial materials such as improvement of raising breed, discharge project of fingerlings and a small sea ranch project. As a result, previous study was analyzed in 30.2 billion won(1993), 54.8billion won(2009), but this study was estimated to 26.4 billion won and differences of benefits amount were occurred. In a previous study was calculated benefits by simple method, but this study came up with new projects for fisheries sector and because we estimated benefits considering new project. The method for benefits calculations for fisheries sector was not attempted in previous studies and in this study, we approached for the first time Also, in this study suggested new method to increase incomes fishermen such as development of suitable ranch breeding for the marine environment, ranch license(limited license), development of fisheries resources and the operation of fisheries facility. In the future, we hope to be helpful for the same field of study.

• Animal cells and systems
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.57-64
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• 2005

Cortical reaction and polyspermy block are well defined in most marine invertebrates. In Urechis species, the function of cortical granules (CGs) is not yet known, and there is controversy on whether the cortical reaction occurs, or the fertilization envelope (FE) is attributed to CG releases or functions to prevent polyspermy. This study was carried out to determine the cortical reactions and functions of the FE in Urechis unicinctus. Artificial insemination of the eggs revealed that CG release occurred to give rise to perivitelline space (PS) into the final FE. Both PS and final FE effectively blocked polyspermy. The final FE was accomplished within 10 min after sperm-egg initial binding. No massive release of CGs occurred within the early phase of 5 min after the initial binding, initially and the PS seemed to playa role to prevent polyspermy. The CG massively released its content into the PS in late phase of FE formation, and differentiated PS into five intermediate layers. The layers opened into each other by anastomosis, so that the final FE consisted of two layers, the inner layer ($15{\mu}m$ in thickness) and the outer layer ($1{\mu}m$ in thickness). The outer layer derived from vitelline layer and the inner layer consisted of PS and CG secretions. Immunofluorescence and confocal laser microscopy revealed that the spermatozoon took up residence in the egg cortex during FE formation and successive meioses of the fertilized egg. These results suggest that both PS and final FE of U. unicinctus were equivalent to the early and late block, respectively, of other marine animals.

• Informatization Policy
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.71-88
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• 2013

Probability of technology risk is expected to increase as the post catch-up innovation, characterized by high uncertainty and high risk, would dominate in the coming era of post catchup. Social controversy on online game as a post catch-up innovation is still ongoing, though the shutdown law was enacted by the government. Socio-technical vulnerability causing technology risk paradoxically arose from the world top-level ICT infrastructures and has been reinforced by developmentalism. While both the pros and cons of the regulation fail to recognize dilemma objectively, social cost is brought about and accumulated. With recognizing dilemma between technology innovation and risks, we can tackle technology risks and ensure responsible innovation in post catch-up era.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.17-22
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• 2009

Pimobendan is a recently developed cardiac drug which is useful to control moderate to severe congestive heart failure (CHF) from chronic mitral valvular diseases (CMVI). Because of controversy related to the efficacy and safety of pimobendan in dogs, the optimal efficacy and safety of pimobendan was assessed in 20 dogs with CMVI in this study. Scores for quality of life, respiratory failure, circulatory failure and heart failure were evaluated along with radiographical and echocardiographical assessments for about 2 months period after the addition of pimobendan into the regular cardiac medications. This study proved clear evidence that pimobendan had beneficial therapeutic effects in dogs with advanced CMVI, without particular adverse effects. However, further studies are warranted to address the drug interaction with other cardiac therapeutics and to assess therapeutic effects in CHF from other type of heart diseases in dogs and other animals.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.152-158
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• 2015

The Korean Government said that it issued advance notice of the amendment of medical act article 34 on Oct. 29 of last year. Another issue at the heart of controversy in 2009 was telemedicine between doctors and patients for the purpose of helping those in the dead zone of medicine and supporting medical service industry. It failed, however, to enact legislation due to the strong opposition from medical profession as well as the apprehension about abuse of medical treatment and the rise of medical expenses. To amend and legislate a law, it is needed in advance to examine and analyze the rationality, propriety and feasibility of it. In particular, when it comes to amending a medical act, the validity should be acknowledged only when the right to life and health of the people is protected. Medical act article 34 is in the state of drift because of stiff resistance from medical and civic groups. This study purpose of analyze and to explain the amendment of recent proposition of Medical Act Article 34 and to suggest possible improvement methods.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.50 no.3
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• pp.224-230
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• 2011

Objective : This study aimed to show the possibility of neural canal enlargement and restoration of bony fragments through laminectomy and minimal facetectomy without pediculectomy or an anterior approach, and also to prove the adequacy of posterior stabilization of vertebral deformities after thoracolumbar bursting fracture. Methods : From January 2003 to June 2009, we experienced 45 patients with thoracolumbar burst fractures. All patients enrolled were presented with either a neural canal compromise of more than 40% with a Benzel-Larson Grade of VI, or more than 30% compromise with less than a Benzel-Larson Grade of V. Most important characteristic of our surgical procedure was repositioning retropulsed bone fragments using custom-designed instruments via laminectomy and minimal facetectomy without removing the fractured bone fragments. Beneath the dural sac, these custom-designed instruments could push the retropulsed bone fragments within the neural canal after the decompression and bone fragment repositioning. Results : The mean kyphotic deformities measured preoperatively and at follow-up within 12 months were 17.7 degrees (${\pm}6.4$ degrees) and 9.6 degrees (${\pm}5.2$ degrees), respectively. The mean midsagittal diameter improved from 8.8 mm (${\pm}2.8$ mm) before surgery to 14.2 mm (${\pm}1.6$ mm) at follow-up. The mean traumatic vertebral body height before surgery was 41.3% (${\pm}12.6%$). At follow-up assessment within 12 months, this score showed a statistically significant increase to 68.3% (${\pm}12.8%$). Neurological improvement occurred in all patients. Conclusion : Though controversy exists in the treatment of severe thoracolumbar burst fracture, we achieved effective radiological and clinical results in the cases of burst fractures causing severe canal compromise and spinal deformity by using this novel custom-designed instruments, via posterior approach alone.

• Journal of IKEEE
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• v.5 no.2 s.9
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• pp.182-189
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• 2001

Single-pass VDD pacemakers have been used as a result of simple implantation procedures and generally reliable atrial tracking that ensures an A-V sequence pacing. However, there is a controversy over their reliabilities of atrial tracking. As a new sensing method for reliable atrial tracking, a simple automatic pacemaker sensing algorithm was implemented and evaluated to validate its benefits in sensing depolarization waves of Single-pass VDD atrial electrograms. The automatic sensing algorithm had a predetermined sensing dynamic range and the sensitivity level was controlled as 50% of the average of two most recently sensed intrinsic amplitudes. The behavior of the automatic sensing algorithm in the Single-pass VDD atrial electrograms was analyzed and characterized. It was observed that the automatic sensing algorithm was more effective than a conventional fixed threshold method to accurately detect and track p-waves in Single-pass VDD electrograms.