• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.49-55
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• 2004

The present study was carried out to investigate the potential acute toxicity of CKD-602 by a single intravenous dose in Beagle dogs. The test chemical was administered intravenously to male and female Beagle dogs at dose levels of 0.3, 0.5, or 2.5 mg/kg. Mortalities, clinical findings, and body weight changes were monitored for the 14-day period following the administration. At the end of 14-day observation period, all animals were sacrificed and complete gross postmortem examinations were performed. All males and females of the 2.5 mg/kg dose group were found dead between the fourth and seventh day after the injection. Treatment related clinical signs, including vomiting, anorexia, mucous stool, diarrhea, and no stool were observed. Decrease or suppression of body weight was observed in a dose-dependent manner. In autopsy, dark red discoloration of the gastrointestinal tract, atrophy of the thymus, paleness of the spleen, sporadic dark red spots of the lung and petechia of the heart were observed in dead animals of the 2.5 mg/kg dose group. There were no specific adverse effects on males and females of the 0.3 and 0.5 mg/kg dose groups, except for the transient clinical signs such as anorexia, vomiting, and mucus/no stool. On the basis of the results, it was concluded that a single intravenous injection of CKD-602 to Beagle dogs resulted in increased incidence of abnormal clinical signs and death, decreased body weight, and increased incidence of abnormal gross findings. The absolute toxic dose of this chemical was 2.5 mg/kg for both genders. The $LD_{50}$ value was 1.1 mg/kg (95% confidence limit not specified) for both genders. The no-observed-effect level (NOEL) was considered to be below 0.3 mg/kg for both genders.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.216-222
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• 2013

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine nurses' emotional responses and ethical attitudes towards elderly patients' Do-Not-Resuscitate (DNR) decision. Methods: Data were collected using a questionnaire which was filled out by 153 nurses who worked in nursing homes and general hospitals. Data were analyzed using real numbers, percentages, means, standard deviations and Pearson's correlation coefficients with SPSS 19.0 program. Results: The average score for ethical attitudes towards the DNR decision was 2.68 out of 4. Under the ethical attitudes category, the highest score was found with a statement that said 'Although they will not perform cardiopulmonary resuscitate (CPR), it is right to do their best with other treatments for DNR Patients'. Items regarding emotional responses to the DNR decision, the average score was 2.36 out of 4. Among them, the highest score was achieved on 'I understand and sympathize'. No significant correlation was found between ethical attitudes and emotional responses in relation to patients' DNR decision (r=-0.12, P=0.13). Conclusion: Regarding elderly patients' DNR decision, nurses showed somewhat highly ethical attitudes and slightly positive emotional response. A follow-up study is needed to investigate variables that affect our results.

• Journal of Biosystems Engineering
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.138-148
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• 2013

Purpose: Determining an appropriate path is a top priority in order for a robot to maneuver in a dynamically efficient way especially in a pick-and-place task. In a non-standardized work environment, current robot arm executes its motion based on the kinematic displacements of joint variables, though resulting motion is not dynamically optimal. In this research we suggest analyzing and applying motion patterns of the human arm as an alternative to perform near optimum motion trajectory for arbitrary pick-and-place tasks. Methods: Since the motion of a human arm is very complicated and diverse, it was simplified into two links: one from the shoulder to the elbow, and the other from the elbow to the hand. Motion patterns were then divided into horizontal and vertical components and further analyzed using kinematic and dynamic methods. The kinematic analysis was performed based on the D-H parameters and the dynamic analysis was carried out to calculate various parameters such as velocity, acceleration, torque, and energy using the Newton-Euler equation of motion and Lagrange's equation. In an attempt to assess the efficacy of the analyzed human motion pattern it was compared to the virtual motion pattern created by the joint interpolation method. Results: To demonstrate the efficacy of the human arm motion mechanical and dynamical analyses were performed, followed by the comparison with the virtual robot motion path that was created by the joint interpolation method. Consequently, the human arm was observed to be in motion while the elbow was bent. In return this contributed to the increase of the manipulability and decrease of gravity and torque being exerted on the elbow. In addition, the energy required for the motion decreased. Such phenomenon was more apparent under vertical motion than horizontal motion patterns, and in shorter paths than in longer ones. Thus, one can minimize the abrasion of joints by lowering the stress applied to the bones, muscles, and joints. From the perspectives of energy and durability, the robot arm will be able to utilize its motor most effectively by adopting the motion pattern of human arm. Conclusions: By applying the motion pattern of human arm to the robot arm motion, increase in efficiency and durability is expected, which will eventually produce robots capable of moving in an energy-efficient manner.

• Journal of the Korean GEO-environmental Society
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.27-36
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• 2012

The water in surface of the earth is frozen under freezing point. The freezing phenomenon, which causes the volume change of soils, affects on the behavior of soils and causes the significant damage on the geotechnical structures. The purpose of this study is to investigate the characteristics of elastic waves in sand-silt mixtures using small size freezing cells, which reflect the frozen ground condition due to temperature change. Experiments are carried out in a nylon cell designed to freeze soils from top to bottom. Bender elements and piezo disk elements are used as the shear and compressional wave transducers. Three pairs of bender elements and piezo disk elements are placed on three locations along the depth. The specimen, which is prepared by mixing sand and silt, is frozen in the refrigerator. The temperature of soils changes from $20^{\circ}C$ to $-10^{\circ}C$. The velocities, resonant frequencies and amplitudes of the shear and compressional waves are continuously measured. Experimental results show that the shear and compressional wave velocities and resonant frequencies increase dramatically near the freezing points. The amplitudes of shear and compressional waves show the different tendency. The dominant factors that affect on the shear wave velocity change from the effective stress to the ice bonding due to freezing. This study provides basic information about the characteristics of elastic waves due to the soil freezing.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.55 no.2
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• pp.103-111
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• 2019

DNA methylation is involved in diverse processes in bacteria, including maintenance of genome integrity and regulation of gene expression. CcrM, the DNA methyltransferase conserved in Alphaproteobacterial species, carries out $N^6$-adenine or $N^4$-cytosine methyltransferase activities using S-adenosyl methionine as a co-substrate. Celeribacter marinus IMCC12053 from the Alphaproteobacterial group was isolated from a marine environment. Single molecule real-time sequencing method (SMRT) was used to detect the methylation patterns of C. marinus IMCC12053. Gibbs motif sampler program was used to observe the conversion of adenosine of 5'-GANTC-3' to $N^6$-methyladenosine and conversion of $N^4$-cytosine of 5'-GpC-3' to $N^4$-methylcytosine. Exocyclic DNA methyltransferase from the genome of strain IMCC12053 was chosen using phylogenetic analysis and $N^4$-cytosine methyltransferase was cloned. IPTG inducer was used to confirm the methylation activity of DNA methylase, and cloned into a pQE30 vector using dam-/dcm- E. coli as the expression host. The genomic DNA and the plasmid carrying methylase-encoding sequences were extracted and cleaved with restriction enzymes that were sensitive to methylation, to confirm the methylation activity. These methylases protected the restriction enzyme site once IPTG-induced methylases methylated the chromosome and plasmid, harboring the DNA methylase. In this study, cloned exocyclic DNA methylases were investigated for potential use as a novel type of GpC methylase for molecular biology and epigenetics.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.19-30
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• 2022

Climate change has increased the average air temperature. Rising air temperature are absorbed by water bodies, leading to increasing water temperature. Increased water temperature will cause eutrophication and excess algal growth, which will reduce water quality. In this study, long-term trends of air and water temperatures in the Han-river basin over the period of 1997-2020 were discussed to assess the impacts of climate change. Future (~2100s) levels of air temperature were predicted based on the climate change scenarios (Representative concentration pathway (RCP) 2.6, 4.5, 6.0, and 8.5). The results showed that air and water temperatures rose at an average rate of 0.027℃ year^-1 and 0.038℃ year^-1 respectively, over the past 24 years (1997 to 2020). Future air temperatures under RCP 2.6, 4.5, 6.0, and 8.5 increased up to 0.32℃ 1.18℃, 2.14℃, and 3.51℃, respectively. An increasing water temperature could dissolve more minerals from the surrounding rock and will therefore have a higher electrical conductivity. It is the opposite when considering a gas, such as oxygen, dissolved in the water. Water temperature also governs the kinds of organisms that can live in rivers and lakes. Fish, insects, zooplankton, phytoplankton, and other aquatic species all have a preferred temperature range. As temperatures get too far above or below this preferred range, the number of individuals of the species decreases until finally there are none. Therefore, changes of water temperature that are induced by climate change have important implications on water supplies, water quality, and aquatic ecosystems of a watershed.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.57 no.1
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• pp.62-69
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• 2024

Background: Cervical esophageal cancer is a rare malignancy that requires specialized care. While definitive chemoradiation is the standard treatment approach, surgery remains a valuable option for certain patients. This study examined the surgical outcomes of patients with cervical esophageal cancer. Methods: The study involved a retrospective review and analysis of 24 patients with cervical esophageal cancer. These patients underwent surgical resection between September 1994 and December 2018. Results: The mean age of the patients was 61.0±10.2 years, and 22 (91.7%) of them were male. Furthermore, 21 patients (87.5%) had T3 or T4 tumors, and 11 (45.8%) exhibited lymph node metastasis. Gastric pull-up with esophagectomy was performed for 19 patients (79.2%), while 5 (20.8%) underwent free jejunal graft with cervical esophagectomy. The 30-day operative mortality rate was 8.3%. During the follow-up period, complications included leakage at the anastomotic site in 9 cases (37.5%) and graft necrosis of the gastric conduit in 1 case. Progression to oral feeding was achieved in 20 patients (83.3%). Fifteen patients (62.5%) displayed tumor recurrence. The median time from surgery to recurrence was 10.5 months, and the 1-year recurrence rate was 73.3%. The 1-year and 3-year survival rates were 75% and 33.3%, respectively, with a median survival period of 17 months. Conclusion: Patients with cervical esophageal cancer who underwent surgical resection faced unfavorable outcomes and relatively poor survival. The selection of cases and decision to proceed with surgery should be made cautiously, considering the risk of severe complications.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.152-155
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• 2014

An 11-year-old castrated Schnauzer presented with paraplegia for the last two weeks, initially developed pelvic limb ataxia 6 months ago and left pelvic limb paresis 3 months ago. On neurological examination, paraplegia and postural reaction deficits were noted in the pelvic limbs with no deep pain sensation, and the dog showed exaggerated spinal reflexes and involuntary urination. Magnetic resonance (MR) images of thoracolumbar spinal cord were obtained with a 0.3 Tesla magnet. A mass with a broad base to the dorsal and left dural margins was identified at the level of L2, causing marked spinal cord compression. The mass showed isointensity to the spinal cord on T1-weighted (T1W) precontrast images, hyperintensity on T2-weighted images, marked homogeneous contrast enhancement with well-defined margins and the "dural tail" sign on T1W postcontrast images. An intradural-extramedullay tumor was considered, most likely, meningioma was highly suggestive. Left-sided hemilaminectomy and dorsal laminectomy were performed. An intradural mass partially adherent to dura mater was compressing the spinal cord, and the mass was completely removed with the attached dura mater. A histopathologic diagnosis of angiomatous subtype meningioma was made.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.599-610
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• 2016

This paper reports the results of a systematic review (SR) and meta-analysis research to compare the effect of Kangaroo care, targeting mothers and premature infants. A randomized clinical trial study was performed until February 2015. The domestic literature contained the non-randomized clinical trial research without restriction according to the level of the study design. A search of the Ovid-Medline, CINAHL, PubMed and KoreaMed, the National Library of KOREA, the National Assembly Library, NDSL, KISS and RISS. Through the KMbase we searched and combined the main term ((kangaroo OR KC OR skin-to-skin) AND (care OR contact)) AND (infant OR preterm OR Low Birth Weight OR LBW), ((kangaroo OR kangaroo OR kangaroo) AND (care OR nursing care OR management OR skin contact)) was made; these were all combined with a keywords search through the selection process. They were excluded in the final 25 studies (n=3051). A methodology checklist for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) designed by SIGN (Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network) was utilized to assess the risk of bias. The overall risk of bias was regarded as low. In 16 studies that were evaluated as a grade of "++", 9 studies were evaluated as a grade of "+". As a result of meta-analysis, kangaroo care regarding the effects of premature mortality, severe infection/sepsis had an insignificant effect. Hyperthermia incidence, growth and development (height and weight), mother-infant attachment, hypothermia incidence, length of hospital days, breast feeding rate, sleeping, anxiety, confidence, and gratification of mothering role were considered significant. In satisfaction of the role performance, depression and stress presented contradictory research results for individual studies showing overall significant difference. This study has some limitations due to the few RCTs comparing kangaroo care in the country. Therefore, further RCTs comparing kangaroo care should be conducted.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.255-258
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• 2015

Gastric dilatation and volvulus (GDV) is an acute and life-threatening disease most commonly affecting large- and giant-breed dogs. However a 17-year-old Shih-tzu (4 kg, spayed female) was hospitalized for acute GDV. Repeated unproductive retching, lethargy, and excessively enlarged abdomen were observed. Physical examination indicated that the patient had suffered from hypothermia ($36.5^{\circ}C$), tachycardia (240 bpm), slowed capillary refill time (> 2 sec.), and pale mucous membrane. Grade III murmur with normal lung sound was auscultated. Abdominal palpation revealed that tympanic regions existed in both the left and right sides. Systolic blood pressure decreased gradually from 220 to 40 mmHg within 4 hours. In blood analysis, slight azotemia was observed by blood urea nitrogen (BUN; 29.1 mg/dl) and creatinine (1.6 mg/dl). Blood lactate concentration (8.13 mmol/l) was severely elevated. Additionally, dilatation and volvulus of the stomach was observed by radiograph. Supportive oxygen, heat, fluid, and drugs were administered with gastric decompressions (e.g., gastrocentesis and nasogastric tube). However the patient entered into comatose status with uncontrollable systolic blood pressure, despite the administration of dobutamine intravenously. The case was closed by euthanasia, considering welfare and age. We finally diagnosed the patient as a GDV, thus this is the first GDV case report in small-breed dog such as Shih-tzu.