• The Journal of Korean Medicine
• /
• v.28 no.1 s.69
• /
• pp.94-104
• /
• 2007

Objectives : This study investigated the effects of teaching English medical journals to traditional Korean medical students as a way of integrated curriculum, focusing on evidence-based traditional Korean medicine (EBKM) in the light of globalization of traditional Korean Medicine. Methods : 232 students (l16 1st year and t 16 2nd year) were asked to complete a questionnaire at the end of the course in order to validate the course's efficacy on acquisition and utilization of the latest medical knowledge as well as change of attitude toward English itself. Results : The courses were very useful in reducing discomfort toward English journals and to applying the latest medical knowledge to academic reports, clinical practices, and finally to establish abilities for EBKM. The 1st year students who took the courses for two semesters consecutively showed more significant satisfaction than the 2nd year students with only one semester. Conclusion : The findings suggest that English medical journals are an essential curriculum f3r the advance of EBKM and globalization of traditional Korean Medicine and therefore developing adequate textbooks, teaching methods, and quality of instructors should be considered for successful achievements.

• Journal of information and communication convergence engineering
• /
• v.20 no.1
• /
• pp.49-57
• /
• 2022

Fertilizers have long been used to increase crop yields; however, farmers are still having difficulties in managing fertilizers for growing crops as well as economic problems. The conventional method of soil sampling and laboratory analysis to determine soil pH is time consuming and costly; therefore, a portable pH sensor is developed to characterize spatial or temporal variability within fields via rapid and dense data acquisition. The portable pH sensor comprises an electrode unit, a portable console, and a USB connector. The soil water content (SWC) and electrical conductivity (EC) affect the electrical resistance of soil. An artificial test soil is performed to evaluate the effect of SWC and EC on soil pH. The test results show that stable pH measurements are achieved at SWCs greater than 20 mL (16.3%). Regardless of the SWC, the electric potential difference (EPD) remains at 2.5 g of NaCl. As the EC increases in the soil samples, the EPD increases.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
• /
• v.30 no.4
• /
• pp.189-196
• /
• 2012

Purpose: To investigate the safety of high dose hypofractionated radiotherapy (RT) in patients with small hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in terms of liver volumetric changes and clinical liver function. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 16 patients with small HCC who were treated with high dose hypofractionated RT between 2006 and 2009. The serial changes of the liver volumetric parameter were analyzed from pre-RT and follow-up (FU) computed tomography (CT) scans. We estimated linear time trends of whole liver volume using a linear mixed model. The serial changes of the Child-Pugh (CP) scores were also analyzed in relation to the volumetric changes. Results: Mean pre-RT volume of entire liver was 1,192.2 mL (range, 502.6 to 1,310.2 mL) and mean clinical target volume was 14.7 mL (range, 1.56 to 70.07 mL). Fourteen (87.5%) patients had 4 FU CT sets and 2 (12.5%) patients had 3 FU CT sets. Mean interval between FU CT acquisition was 2.5 months. After considering age, gender and the irradiated liver volume as a fixed effects, the mixed model analysis confirmed that the change in liver volume is not significant throughout the time course of FU periods. Majority of patients had a CP score change less than 2 except in 1 patient who had CP score change more than 3. Conclusion: The high dose hypofractionated RT for small HCC is relatively safe and feasible in terms of liver volumetric changes and clinical liver function.

• Journal of Microbiology
• /
• v.43 no.4
• /
• pp.345-353
• /
• 2005

The complex ecosystem of intestinal micro flora is estimated to harbor approximately 400 different microbial species, mostly bacteria. However, studies on bacterial colonization have mostly been based on culturing methods, which only detect a small fraction of the whole microbiotic ecosystem of the gut. To clarify the initial acquisition and subsequent colonization of bacteria in an infant within the few days after birth, phylogenetic analysis was performed using 16S rDNA sequences from the DNA iso-lated from feces on the 1st, 3rd, and 6th day. 16S rDNA libraries were constructed with the amplicons of PCR conditions at 30 cycles and $50^{\circ}C$ annealing temperature. Nine independent libraries were produced by the application of three sets of primers (set A, set B, and set C) combined with three fecal samples for day 1, day 3, and day 6 of life. Approximately 220 clones ($76.7\%$) of all 325 isolated clones were characterized as known species, while other 105 clones ($32.3\%$) were characterized as unknown species. The library clone with set A universal primers amplifying 350 bp displayed increased diversity by days. Thus, set A primers were better suited for this type of molecular ecological analysis. On the first day of the life of the infant, Enterobacter, Lactococcus lactis, Leuconostoc citreum, and Streptococcus mitis were present. The largest taxonomic group was L. lactis. On the third day of the life of the infant, Enterobacter, Enterococcus faecalis, Escherichia coli, S. mitis, and Streptococcus salivarius were present. On the sixth day of the life of the infant, Citrobacter, Clostridium difficile, Enterobacter sp., Enterobacter cloacae, and E. coli were present. The largest taxonomic group was E. coli. These results showed that microbiotic diversity changes very rapidly in the few days after birth, and the acquisition of unculturable bacteria expanded rapidly after the third day.

• Journal of Biosystems Engineering
• /
• v.42 no.4
• /
• pp.350-357
• /
• 2017

Purpose: In-situ monitoring of water quality is fundamental to most environmental applications. The high cost and long delays of conventional laboratory methods used to determine water quality, including on-site sampling and chemical analysis, have limited their use in efficiently managing water sources while preventing environmental pollution. The objective of this study was to develop an on-site water monitoring system consisting mainly of an Arduino board and a sensor array of multiple ion selective electrodes (ISEs) to measure the concentration of $NO_3$ ions. Methods: The developed system includes a combination of three ISEs, double-junction reference electrode, solution container, sampling system consisting of three pumps and solenoid valves, signal processing circuit, and an Arduino board for data acquisition and system control. Prior to each sample measurement, a two-point normalization method was applied for a sensitivity adjustment followed by an offset adjustment to minimize the potential drift that could occur during continuous measurement and standardize the response of multiple electrodes. To investigate its utility in on-site nitrate monitoring, the prototype was tested in a facility where drinking water was collected from a water supply source. Results: Differences in the electric potentials of the $NO_3$ ISEs between 10 and $100mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$ $NO_3$ concentration levels were nearly constant with negative sensitivities of 58 to 62 mV during the period of sample measurement, which is representative of a stable electrode response. The $NO_3$ concentrations determined by the ISEs were almost comparable to those obtained with standard instruments within 15% relative errors. Conclusions: The use of the developed on-site nitrate monitoring system based on automatic sampling and two-point normalization was feasible for detecting abrupt changes in nitrate concentration at various water supply sites, showing a maximum difference of $4.2mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$ from an actual concentration of $14mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
• /
• v.15 no.3
• /
• pp.283-291
• /
• 2005

This study was penonned to provide basic data that predict the usefulness of Gastrodiae rhizoma as food materials for oriental medicinal cuisine(YakSun). We measured the changes of regional cerebral blood flow(rCBF) and blood pressure(BP) in rats, following the intravenous injection of Gastrodiae rhizoma water extract The measurement was continually monitored by laser-doppler flowmeter and pressure transducer in anesthetized adult Sprague-Dawley rats for about two to two and half hours through the data acquisition system composed of MacLab and Macintosh computer. The results of this experiment were as follows. Gastrodiae rhizoma increased the changes of rCBF in rats significantly. The rCBF of Gastrodiae rhizoma did not change by pretreated propranolol, atropin, methylene blue and indomethacin. But the rCBF of Gastrodiae rhizoma was increased by pretreated L-NNA. Gastrodiae rhizaoma decreased the changes of BP significantly. The BP of Gastrodiae rhizoma did not change by pretreated propranolol, atropin, methylene blue and indomethacin. But the BP of Gastrodiae rhizoma was decreased by pretreated L-NNA. These results indicated that Gastrodiae rhizoma might increase the rCBF and the BP which related to nitric oxide synthesis. Also these results indicate that Gastrodiae rhizoma can be used as a safe and clinically applicable to diet therapy of cerebral cardiovascular disease.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
• /
• v.17 no.2
• /
• pp.110-122
• /
• 2013

Purpose : To compare the image quality and ligament traceability in ankle images obtained using Volume Isotropic Turbo Spin Echo Acquisition (VISTA) MRI with and without fat suppression. Materials and Methods: The signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs) in images from a phantom and from the ankle of a volunteer were compared. Ten ankles from 10 non-symptomatic volunteers were imaged for comparisons of contrast ratio (CR) and ligament traceability. All examinations were performed using VISTA sequences with and without fat suppression on a 3T MRI scanner. The SNRs were obtained from images with subjects and without subjects (noise-only). Contrast ratios from images of the 10 ankles were acquired between fluid and tendon (F-T), F-cartilage (C), F-ligament (L), fat (f)-T, f-C and f-L. Two musculoskeletal radiologists independently scored the traceability of 7 ligaments, in sagittal, axial and coronal images respectively, based on a 4-point scale (1 as not traceable through 4 as clearly traceable). The Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used to compare the CR. Fisher's exact test and Pearson's chi-squared test were used to compare the ligament traceability. Results: The SNRs did not differ significantly between the two sequences except in bone marrow. VISTA SPAIR showed the higher CR only in F-T (p = 0.04), whereas VISTA showed higher CR in f-T (p = 0.005), f-C (p = 0.005) and f-L (p = 0.005). The calcaneofibular ligament traceability with VISTA was superior to that obtained with VISTA SPAIR (p < 0.05) in all planes. Conclusion: VISTA showed significant superiority to VISTA SPAIR in tracing CFL due to the superior CR between fat and ligament.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
• /
• v.15 no.2
• /
• pp.41-46
• /
• 2011

Purpose: The result of exam using an imaging device is very closely related with the image quality. Moreover, this image quality can be changed according to the condition of image acquisition and evaluation method. In this study, we evaluated the image quality according to the difference of pre-set method in PET/CT image. Materials & Methods: PET/CT Discovery STe16 (GE Healthcare, Milwaukee, USA), Chest PET phantom (Experiment 1) and 94 NEMA phantom (Experiment 2) were used. Phantom were filled with $^{18}F$-FDG maintaining hot sphere and background ratio to 4:1. In the case of experiment 1, we set the radio activity concentration on 3.5, 6.0, 8.6 kBq/mL. In the case of experiment 2, we set the radio activity concentration on 3.3, 5.5, 7.7, 9.9, 12.1, 16.5 kBq/mL. All experiments were performed with the time-set method for 2 minutes 30 seconds per frame and the count-set method with one hundred million counts in 3D mode after CT transmission scan. For the evaluation of the image quality, we compared each results by using the NECR and SNR. Results: In the experiment 1, both the NECR and SNR were increased as radioactivity concentration getting increased. The NECR was shown as 53.7, 66.9, 91.4. and SNR was shown as 7.9, 10.0, 11.7. Both the NECR and SNR were increased in time-set method. But the count-set method's pattern was not similar with the time-set method. The NECR was shown as 53.8, 69.1, 97.8, and SNR was shown as 14.1, 14.7 14.4. The SNR was not increased in count-set method. In experiment 2, results of both the NECR and SNR were shown as 45.1, 70.6, 95.3, 115.6, 134.6, 162.2 and 7.1, 8.8, 10.6, 11.5, 12.7, 14.0. These results were shown similar patten with the experiment 1. Moreover, when the count-set method was applied, the NECR was shown as 42.1, 67.3, 92.1, 112.2, 130.7, 158.7, and SNR was shown as 15.2, 15.9, 15.6, 15.4, 15.5, 14.9. The NECR was increased but SNR was not shown same pattern. Conclusion: Increment of administered radioactivity improves the quality of image unconcerned with the pre-set method. However, NECR was not influenced by increment of total acquisition counts through simple increasing scan duration without increment of administered activity. In case of count-set method, the SNR was shown similar value despite of increment of radioactivity. So, the administered activity is more important than the scan duration. And we have to consider that evaluation of image quality using only SNR may not be appropriate.

• International Journal of Quality Innovation
• /
• v.8 no.3
• /
• pp.123-155
• /
• 2007

This research treated the secondary school teachers as the research scale and the research targets included the following: secondary school (employ unit), center of teacher education, and qualified teachers. In terms of these three groups of people, the topics of exploration focused on the perception of suitable teachers, perception of evaluation standard during the process of teacher examination and the relationship among teacher examination systems. The research was managed by two phases: the first phase referred to literature reorganization, expert interview, the qualities and conditions of suitable teachers, important evaluation standard during the process of teacher examination and teacher examination system used; the second phase included questionnaire survey, employ school acquisition, the perception of centers of teacher education and qualified teachers toward the suitability condition and examination evaluation standard in the first phase and teacher examination system used. This research found out that as to the perception of suitable teachers, through data collection, there were six factors reorganized. The levels of their importance were as follows: education devotion, teaching capacity, class management, capacity to guide special students, capacity to communicate with the parents and the will to undertake administrative works. Noticeably, employee unit and centers of teacher education apparently valued class management more, compared with trained teachers; as to evaluation standard of examination, the analytical result found out that the perception of three groups were different in terms of the views toward educational works, written examination data, candidate's age, club experience at school and capacity to use multimedia support teaching materials. This research further proposed six suggestions for centers of teacher education and trained teachers: (l) employ schools considerably valued educational devotion; (2) trained teachers tended to neglect the importance of class management; (3) employee unit considerably cared about the new teachers' competence to use multimedia support teaching materials; however, trained teachers did not have the same view; (4) employee unit considerably cared about new teachers' views toward educational works as well as the candidates' ages; (5) generally speaking, trained teachers neglected the importance of club experience at school; (6) the data revealed that written examination data was not relatively important in terms of teacher examination.

• Journal of Family Resource Management and Policy Review
• /
• v.13 no.3
• /
• pp.181-205
• /
• 2009

The purpose of this study is to investigate some Influencing factors related to the wealth perception and property increase of 519 women in Seoul. The research was conducted from the end of February 15 to the beginning of January 20, 2009. The figures obtained were analyzed by frequency, percentage, mean, x-test, t-test, F-test, chi-square, and Duncan's F-test with SPSS pc+ The major findings of who study are summarized as follows: l.There were significant differences between the wealth recognition (economic plan affirmative and negative perception of wealth) for women according to social and psychological variables; economic plans have a higher value for married women, older women, those who have followed a postgraduate university course, those with higher income and expenditure, higher life satisfaction, and high and middle satisfaction with their economic life. In particular, economic plans varied significantly according to expectation of wealth in old age, and future economic prospects in the middle group. 2. Increased wealth and economic according to social and psychological variables (marital status, age, education, income, expenditure, life satisfaction, satisfaction with economic life, expectation of wealth in old age, future economic prospects) were shown to be associated with the following methods of increasing property: use of savings banks (p<.001) showed a rate of deposit of 20%-40% (p<.001) saving and thrift was a practice (p<001) that was related to the cost of living; and education expenditure (p<.001) as a property preparation period was exhibited in women aged 25-30 (p<.001). 3. There were significant differences in the recognition of wealth according to strategies for increasing wealth. There were no significant differences between mean of property acquisition and point of expenditure or the property preparation period in the perception of wealth. The related variables in rate of deposits were under 20% according to economic plan and negative wealth perception. In contrast, in the middle and high group, the economic plan and negative wealth perception were 20%-40% in relation to the rate of deposits. Variables related to the action of saving and thrift and property acquisition were practiced in the low and middle group of affirmative wealth recognition and the high group of negative wealth perception. The high group for wealthrecognition and the low group for wealthnegation exhibited little savings, thrift, and property accumulation. Those variables which point an expenditure the cost of living were education expenditure in all groups of negative wealth perception. The women in the study practiced more soundness economic planning according to their increased wealth and economic strategy. This study suggests that women should have positive wealth perception in their lives.