• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.159-166
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• 2007

Objective: To investigate whether semen parameters in infertile couples who undergone intrauterine insemination (IUI) change in the subsequent IUI cycle and the subsequent in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycle. Methods: Fifty-three infertile couples who had failed to become pregnant after the first IUI cycle with computer-assisted semen analysis (CASA) were included. After the first IUI, thirty-eight couples underwent the second IUI (Group 1), and fifteen underwent IVF-ET procedure (Group 2). All semen parameters including semen volume, concentration, motility and total motile sperm count were analyzed in the second IUI or IVF-ET procedure for comparison with the result of first IUI. Results: There were no significant differences in husband age, interval between the first and second procedure and cause of infertility. In Group 1, only sperm motility at the time of the latter IUI was significantly decreased when compared to the former IUI irrespective of the first semen parameters. In Group 2, sperm concentration, motility and total motile sperm count at the time of subsequent IVF were lower than the former IUI. By sub-analyses of Group 2, in the group of optimal semen parameter at IUI cycle, sperm concentration and total motile sperm count at the time of subsequent IVF were lower than the former IUI, while in the group of suboptimal semen parameter at IUI cycle, only sperm motility at the time of subsequent IVF were lower than the former IUI. Conclusion: The semen parameters in couples converted to IVF cycle were more adversely affected than those remained in IUI cycle. Further study on psychological stress should be necessary to explain the reason.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.703-709
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• 2015

A breeding pair of the Black-faced Spoonbill Platalea minor was firstly recorded on Chilsando Islands, Younggwang, Jeollanamdo Province in 1991. Since the mid 2000s, breeding population on the breeding sites has gradually increased. This study was conducted to identify breeding status and nest site characteristics of the species from May to August, 2013 on Chilsando Islands. We recorded number of nests, length and width of the nest base, slope around the nests, nest materials, distances from the nearest nest, presence of nest cover and nesting area. In 2013 breeding season, 25 of 49 nests produced at least one successful fledging. A total of 55 youngs were successfully fledged and number of fledging per nest was 2.20 individuals. Nesting area was $77.8m^2$ and $93.4m^2$ for Sansando and Yuksando Islet, respectively. Soil and soil mixed with tree root were preferred for substrate of nest base over rock and Brassica napus was dominantly selected as nest materials by Black-faced Spoonbills. Nest characteristics of 22 nests in Sasando and Yuksando Islet varied $49.59{\pm}6.53cm$(mean${\pm}$SD) for length of nest base, $41.00{\pm}5.82cm$ for width of nest base, $20.85{\pm}9.96^{\circ}$ for slope above the nest, $34.09{\pm}17.75^{\circ}$ for slope below the nest and $130.82{\pm}84.17cm$ for distances from the nearest nest. Fifteen pairs (68.2%) occupied where nest cover existed. Nest cover were located in front of the nest for 5 pairs, back of the nest for 9 pairs and both front and back of the nest for 1 pair.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Crop Science Conference
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• 2017.06a
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• pp.107-107
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• 2017

Sweet corns are enjoyed worldwide as processed products and fresh ears. Types of sweet corn are based on the gene(s) involved. The oldest sweet corn type has a gene called "sugary (su)". Sugary-based sweet corn was typically named "sweet corn". With its relatively short shelf life and the discovery of a complementary gene, "sugary enhanced (se)", the sweet corn (su only) was rapidly replaced with another type of sweet corns, sugary enhanced sweet corn, which has recessive homozygous su/su, se/se genotype. With the incorporation of se/se genotype into existing su/su genotype, sugary enhanced sweet corn has better shelf life and increased sweetness while maintaining its creamy texture due to high level of water soluble polysaccharide, phytoglycogen. Super sweet corn as the name implies has higher level of sweetness and better shelf life than sugary enhanced sweet corn due to "shrunken2 (sh2)" gene although there's no creamy texture of su-based sweet corns. Distinction between sh2/sh2 and su/su genotypes in seeds is phenotypically possible. The Involvement of se/se genotype under su/su genotype, however, is visually impossible. The genotype sh2/sh2 is also phenotypically epistatic to su/su genotype when both genotypes are present in an individual, meaning the seed shape for double recessive sh2/sh2 su/su genotype is much the same as sh2/sh2 +/+ genotype. Hence, identifying the double and triple recessive homozygous genotypes from su, se and sh2 genes involves a testcross to single recessive genotype, chemical analysis or DNA-based marker development. For these reasons, sweetcorn breeders were hastened to put them together into one cultivar. This, however, appears to be no longer the case. Sweet corn companies began to sell their sweet corn hybrids with different combinations of abovementioned three genes under a few different trademarks or genetic codes, i.g. Sweet $Breed^{TM}$, Sweet $Gene^{TM}$, Synergistic corn, Augmented Supersweet corn. A total of 49 commercial sweet corn F1 hybrids with B73 as a check were genotyped using DNA-based markers. The genotype of field corn inbred B73 was +/+ +/+ +/+ for su, se and sh2 as expected. All twelve sugary enhanced sweet corn hybrids had the genotype of su/su se/se +/+. Of sixteen synergistic hybrids, thirteen cultivars had su/su se/se sh2/+ genotype while the genotype of two hybrids and the remaining one hybrid was su/su se/+ sh2/+, and su/su +/+ sh2/+, respectively. The synergistic hybrids all were recessive homozygous for su gene and heterozygous for sh2 gene. Among the fifteen augmented supersweet hybrids, only one hybrid was triple recessive homozygous (su/su se/se sh2/sh2). All the other hybrids had su/su se/+ sh2/sh2 for one hybrid, su/su +/+ sh2/sh2 for three hybrids, su/+ se/se sh2/sh2 for three hybrids, su/+ se/+ sh2/sh2 for four hybrids, and su/+ +/+ sh2/sh2 for three hybrids, respectively. What was believed to be a classic super sweet corn hybrids also had various genotypic combination. There were only two hybrids that turned out to be single recessive sh2 homozygous (+/+ +/+ sh2/sh2) while all the other five hybrids could be classified as one of augmented supersweet genotypes. Implication of the results for extension service and sweet corn breeding will be discussed.

• Science of Emotion and Sensibility
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.613-620
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• 2010

The purpose of this study was to quantitatively evaluate the effects of the secondary task while simulated driving using the variable indicating control of vehicle and smoothness of motion. Fifteen healthy adults having 1~2years driving experience were participated. 9 markers were attached on the subjects' upper(shoulder, elbow, Wrist) and lower(knee, ankle, toe) limbs and all subjects were instructed to keep the 30m distance with the front vehicle running at 80km/hr speed. Sending text message(STM) and searching navigation(SN) were selected as the secondary task. Experiment consisted of driving alone for 1 min and driving with secondary task for 1 min, and was defined driving and cognition blocks respectively. To indicate the effects of secondary task, coefficient of variation of distance between vehicles and lane keeping(APCV and MLCV) and jerk-cost function(JC) were analyzed. APCV was increased by 222.1% in SN block. MLCV was increased by 318.2% in STM and 308.4% in SN. JC were increased at the drivers' elbow, knee, ankle and toe, especially the total mean JC of lower limbs were increased by 218.2% in STM and 294.7% in SN. Conclusively, Performing secondary tasks while driving decreased the smoothness of motion with increased JC and disturbed the control of vehicle with increased APCV and MLCV.

• Science of Emotion and Sensibility
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.107-116
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• 2013

In the implementation of a P300 speller, rows and columns paradigm (RCP) is most commonly used. However, the RCP remains subject to adjacency-distraction error and double-flash problems. This study suggests a novel P300 speller stimuli presentation-the sub-block paradigm (SBP) that is likely to solve the problems effectively. Fifteen subjects participated in this experiment where both SBP and RCP were used to implement the P300 speller. Electroencephalography (EEG) activity was recorded from Fz, Cz, Pz, Oz, P3, P4, PO7, and PO8. Each paradigm consisted of a training phase to train a classifier and a testing phase to evaluate the speller. Eighteen characters were used for the target stimuli in the training phase. Additionally, 5 subjects were required to spell 50 characters and the rest of the subjects were to spell 25 characters in the testing phase. Classification accuracy results show that average accuracy was significantly higher in SBP as of 83.73% than that of RCP as of 66.40%. Grand mean event-related potentials (ERPs) at Pz show that positive peak amplitude for the target stimuli was greater in SBP compared to that of RCP. It was found that subjects tended to attend more to the characters in SBP. According to the participants' ratings on how comfortable they were with using each type of paradigm on 7-point Likert scale, most subjects responded 'very difficult' in RCP while responding 'medium' and 'easy' in SBP. The result showed that SBP was felt more comfortable than RCP by the subjects. In sum, the SBP was more correct in P300 speller performance as well as more convenient for users than the RCP. The actual limitations in the study were discussed in the last part of this paper.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.361-370
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• 2009

The image quality management of bone mineral density is the responsibility and duty of radiologists who carry out examinations. However, inaccurate conclusions due to lack of understanding and ignorance regarding the methodology of image quality management can be a fatal error to the patient. Therefore, objective of this paper is to understand proper image quality management and enumerate methods for examiners and patients, thereby ensuring the reliability of bone mineral density exams. The accuracy and precision of bone mineral density measurements must be at the highest level so that actual biological changes can be detected with even slight changes in bone mineral density. Accuracy and precision should be continuously preserved for image quality of machines. Those factors will contribute to ensure the reliability in bone mineral density exams. Proper equipment management or control methods are set with correcting equipment each morning and after image quality management, a phantom, recommended from the manufacturer, is used for ten to twenty-five measurements in search of a mean value with a permissible range of ${\pm}1.5%$ set as standard. There needs to be daily measurement inspections on the phantom or at least inspections three times a week in order to confirm the existence or nonexistence of changes in values in actual bone mineral density. in addition, bone mineral density measurements were evaluated and recorded following the rules of Shewhart control chart. This type of management has to be conducted for the installation and movement of equipment. For the management methods of inspectors, evaluation of the measurement precision was conducted by testing the reproducibility of the exact same figures without any real biological changes occurring during reinspection. Bone mineral density inspection was applied as the measurement method for patients either taking two measurements thirty times or three measurements fifteen times. An important point when taking measurements was after a measurement whether it was the second or third examination, it was required to descend from the table and then reascend. With a 95% confidence level, the precision error produced from the measurement bone mineral figures came to 2.77 times the minimum of the biological bone mineral density change. The value produced can be stated as the least significant change (LSC) and in the case the value is greater, it can be stated as a section of genuine biological change. From the initial inspection to equipment moving and shifter, management must be carried out and continued in order to achieve the effects. The enforcement of proper quality control of radiologists performing bone mineral density inspections which brings about the durability extensions of equipment and accurate results of calculations will help the assurance of reliable inspections.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.24 no.2 s.34
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• pp.181-194
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• 1991

This study intended to obtain an useful information on the prevalence of subjective symptoms, and to clarify the interrelationships between blood lead and lead related symptoms in low level lead exposure. The 93 male workers exposed to lead and 56 male nonexposed workers were examined for their blood lead(PBB), Zinc-protoporphy(ZPP), hemoglobin(HB) and personnal history, and completed 15 questionnaires related to symptoms of lead absorption : also measured lead concentration in air (PBA) in the workplace. The results obtained were as follows ; 1. The means of blood lead (PBB), blood ZPP and hemoglobin (HB) among workers exposed to lead were $26.1{\pm}8.8{\mu}g/dl,\;28.3{\pm}26.0{\mu}g/dl$ and $16.2{\pm}1.2g/dl$ : whereas those of nonexposed workers were $18.7{\pm}5.1{\mu}g/dl,\;20.6{\pm}8.7{\mu}g/dl$ and $17.3{\pm}1.1g/dl$. The means of above three indicies between two groups showed significant difference statistically (p<0.05). 2. The means of blood lead (PBB), blood ZPP and hemoglobin of workers exposed .to different lead concentration in air were as follows : When it was below $25{\mu}g/m^3$, the indices were $24.7{\pm}79,\;26.1{\pm}26.8{\mu}g/dl\;and\;16.4{\pm}1.1g/dl$ respectively : These indices were $27.1{\pm}8.5,\;23.9{\pm}10.92{\mu}g/dl\;and\;16.2{\pm}1.3g/dl$ when the lead concentration in air was $25{\sim}50{\mu}g/m^3$ : and they were $3.4{\pm}9.3,\;42.3{\pm}31.3{\mu}g/dl\;and\;15.5{\pm}1.2g/dl$ when the concentration of lead was above $50{\mu}g/m^3$. Although there were statistical difference in blood lead and hemoglobin among three different lead concentration in air, there was no statistical difference of blood ZPP among the three groups with different exposure levels (p>0.05). 3. The most frequent by complained symptom was 'Generalized weakness and fatigue', and fewest symptom was 'Intermittent pains in abdomen' 4. Only two symptoms out of fifteen symptoms checked by themselves revealed significant difference between exposed and nonexposed groups. These were 'Intermittent pains of abdomen' and 'Joint pain or arthralgia' (p<0.05), No positive correlation was found between the levels of blood lead and symptom groups categorized as gastrointestinal, neuromuscular and constitutional symptoms, 5. Blood lead (r=0.3995) and ZPP (r=0.2837) showed statistically significant correlation with mean lead concentration in air, whereas correlations were not demonstrated between blood lead and lead related symptoms or blood ZPP and lead related symptoms. 6. Blood lead (PBB) and ZPP showed association (r=0.2466) and the equation PBB=23.75+0.0842 ZPP was derived. 7. On stepwise multiple regression, using blood lead level as a dependent variable and ZPP, hemoglobin (HB), age, work duration (WD) and symptom prevalence as a independent variables, only ZPP significantly contributed a lot to blood lead level. 8. While the ZPP measurement was found to be a good indicator in evaluating health effect of lead absorption in low level lead exposure, lead related symptoms were not sensitive enough to evaluate of lead absorption in low level exposure.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.215-224
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• 1997

Purpose : Stereotactic radiosurgery with external beam irradiation successfully obliterates carefully selected intracranial arteriovenous malformation (AVM) . We Present clinical and radiological long term results after treatment with a single high dose irradiation using a linear accelerator. Materials and Methods : Rrom January 1991 to June 1994, fifteen patients with intracranial AVM were treated in our hospital with the stereotactic radiosurgery using a linear accelerator. The radiation was delivered using a 6 MV linear accelerator. The prescribed doses at the isocenter varied from 1800 to 2500cGy (median : 2000cGy) and were given as a sin91e fraction. The radiation doses at the periphery of the lesion typically corresponded to the 80-90% isodose line. In 14 patients, complete clinical and/or radiological follow-up examination were available. Results : Angiography was available in 13 patients with a follow-up Period from 18 months to 27 months. Of 13 patients, the overall complete obliteration rate was 92.3% (12 patients). This incidence did not correlate with lesion size. Seizure, headache and progressive neurologic deficit were complete recovered. One Patient experienced hemorrhage at 2 months after treatment. One patient developed radiation induced brain edema in the white matter surrounding nidus at 16 months after treatment and showed complete resolution of the edema in MR image obtained at 27 months after treatment. After a follow-up period of up to 6 years, no radiation induced severe late complications occurred. Conclusion : We conclude that stereotactic radiosurgery using a linear accelerator is an effective and safe therapy for symptomatic and surgically inaccessible intracranial AVMs and the results compare favorably to the more expensive and elaborate systems that are currently available for stereotactic radiosurgery.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.260-266
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• 2008

Small lysimeter experiment under rain shelter plastic film house was conducted to investigate the effect of soil characteristics on the leaching and soil solution concentration of nitrate and phosphate. Three soils were obtained from different agricultural sites of Korea: Soil A (mesic family of Typic Dystrudepts), Soil B (mixed, mesic family of Typic Udifluvents), and Soil C (artificially disturbed soils under greenhouse). Organic-C contents were in the order of Soil C ($32.4g\;kg^{-1}$) > Soil B ($15.0g\;kg^{-1}$) > Soil A ($8.1g\;kg^{-1}$). Inorganic-N concentration also differed significantly among soils, decreasing in the order of Soil B > Soil C > Soil A. Degree of P saturation (DPS) of Soil C was 178%, about three and fifteen times of Soil B (38%) and Soil A (6%). Prior to treatment, soils in lysimeters (dia. 300 mm, soil length 450 mm) were tabilized by repeated drying and wetting procedures for two weeks. After urea at $150kg\;N\;ha^{-1}$ and $KH_2PO_4$ at $100kg\;P_2O_5\;ha^{-1}$ were applied on the surface of each soil, total volume of irrigation was 213 mm at seven occasions for 65 days. At 13, 25, 35, 37, and 65 days after treatment, soil solution was sampled using rhizosampler at 10, 20, and 30 cm depth and leachate was sampled by free drain out of lysimeter. The volume of leachate was the highest in Soil C, and followed by the order of Soils A and B, whereas the amount of leached nitrate had a reverse trend, i.e. Soil B > Soil A > Soil C. Soil A and B had a significant increase of the nitrate concentration of soil solution at depth of 10 cm after urea-N treatment, but Soil C did not. High nitrate mobility of Soil B, compared to other soils, is presumably due to relatively high clay content, which could induce high extraction of nitrate of soil matrix by anion exclusion effect and slow rate of water flow. Contrary to Soil B, high organic matter content of Soil C could be responsible for its low mobility of nitrate, inducing preferential flow by water-repellency and rapid immobilization of nitrate by a microbial community. Leached phosphate was detected in Soil C only, and continuously increased with increasing amount of leachate. The phosphate concentration of soil solution in Soil B was much lower than in Soil C, and Soil A was below detection limit ($0.01mg\;L^{-1}$), overall similar to the order of degree of P saturation of soils. Phosphate mobility, therefore, could be largely influenced by degree of P saturation of soils but connect with apparent leaching loss only more than any threshold of P accumulation.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.39 no.9 s.266
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• pp.659-667
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• 2006

Background: Experimental studies of vascular remodeling in the pulmonary arteries have been performed actively. These models required a persistent vascular insult for intimal injury induced by chronic hypoxia, monocrotaline intoxication or chronic air embolism and characterized medial hypertrophy and neointimal formation by active synthesis of the extracellular matrix protein. The purpose of this study was to determine the pattern of pulmonary vascular remodeling after obstruction of the pulmonary vein. Material and Method: Obstruction of the right pulmonary vein with a metal clip was performed in Sprague-Dawley rats $(352{\pm}18g,\;n=10)$ to cause pulmonary vascular disease. Fifteen days later, experimental studies were done and finally the both lungs and hearts were extirpated for experimental measurement. Pulmonary arterial pressure, weight ratio of right ventricle (RV) to left ventricle (LV) and ventricular septum (S) (RV/LV +S weight ratio), and pulmonary artery morphology (percent wall thickness, %WT) were evaluated and compared with normal control groups. Result: Pulmonary hypertension $(38{\pm}12mmHg\;vs\;13{\pm}4mmHg;\;p<0.05)$ and right ventricular hypertrophy (right ventricular/left ventricular and septal weight ratio, $0.52{\pm}0.07\;vs\;0.35{\pm}0.04;\;p<0.05$) with hypertrophy of the muscular layer of the pulmonary arterial wall (percent wall thickness, $22.4{\pm}6.7%\;vs\;6.7{\pm}3.4%;\;p<0.05$) were developed by 15 days after obstruction of the pulmonary vein. Conclusion: Obstruction of the pulmonary vein developed elevation of pulmonary blood pressure and medial hypertrophy of the pulmonary artery. These results are a part of the characteristic vascular remodeling. Theses results demonstrate that obstruction of the pulmonary vein can develope not only high pulmoanry blood flow of contralateral lung but also intima injury inducing vascular remodeling.