• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.162-165
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• 2016

Barium sulfate is an inert material used as a radiographic contrast medium during upper gastrointestinal contrast studies for evaluation of patients with dysphagia. Oral barium aspiration is an uncommon but well-reported complication of this procedure. While barium aspiration of small amounts may not cause any symptoms, massive barium aspiration can be life-threatening, particularly in elderly patients with multiple comorbidities. In this case report, we describe an elderly patient with multiple comorbidities who presented with thyrotoxicosis and dysphagia, and then died after massive barium aspiration. Despite administration of intensive medical care with ventilator support and therapeutic bronchoalveolar lavage to remove the aspirated barium, the patient died of multiple organ failure 9 days after barium aspiration. Clinicians should pay attention to elderly patients with predisposing factors for aspiration in whom upper gastrointestinal barium contrast studies are indicated, and should consider other diagnostic tools for evaluation of dysphagia in this population.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.694-700
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• 2017

Clostridium difficile, which causes pseudomembranous colitis, releases toxin A and toxin B. These toxins are considered to be the main causative agents for the disease pathogenesis, and their expression is associated with a marked increase of apoptosis in mucosal epithelial cells. Colonic epithelial cells are believed to form a physical barrier between the lumen and the submucosa, and abnormally increased mucosal epithelial cell apoptosis is considered to be an initial step in gut inflammation responses. Therefore, one approach to treating pseudomembranous colitis would be to develop agents that block the mucosal epithelial cell apoptosis caused by toxin A, thus restoring barrier function and curing inflammatory responses in the gut. We recently isolated an antimicrobial peptide, Periplanetasin-2 (Peri-2, YPCKLNLKLGKVPFH) from the American cockroach, whose extracts have shown great potential for clinical use. Here, we assessed whether Peri-2 could inhibit the cell toxicity and inflammation caused by C. difficile toxin A. Indeed, in human colonocyte HT29 cells, Peri-2 inhibited the toxin A-induced decrease in cell proliferation and ameliorated the cell apoptosis induced by this toxin. Moreover, in the toxin A-induced mouse enteritis model, Peri-2 blocked the mucosal disruption and inflammatory response caused by toxin A. These results suggest that the American cockroach peptide Peri-2 could be a possible drug candidate for addressing the pseudomembranous colitis caused by C. difficile toxin A.

• Journal of the Korean Geosynthetics Society
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.139-149
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• 2017

The maintenance, repair, and reinforcement projects and structural stability assessments of Seokguram have primarily focused on examining the condition of stone members of Seokguram and the concrete dome structure for Seokguram. However, a 12 m-high rock slope located behind Seokguram raises a concern of slope failure and rockfall, which may reduce stability of Seokguram. It is also unclear whether the soil slopes and masonry wall at the side and the front of Seokguram have sufficient long-term stability against localized heavy rains and earthquakes, which have been frequent in recent years. The present study investigates the ground and the slopes around Seokguram using detailed field survey to identify geographical and geological risk factors, and assess structural stability of the exposed rock mass behind and the slope in front of Seokguram and the masonry wall using stability analysis.

• KDI Journal of Economic Policy
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.51-96
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• 2006

Two conditions should be satisfied if fiscal policy is to stabilize economic cycles; proper policy timing and significant policy effect. This paper evaluates whether the policy timing has been proper in Korea by investigating the correlation between fiscal policy stance and economic conditions. We first calculate quarterly FIs (Fiscal Impulse) using the estimated potential GDP and fiscal balance data. Based on these indices, we 1) analyze how FIs respond to the economic conditions summarized in GDP gap through regression analysis, 2) compare average FIs in expansionary and recessionary periods according to the NSO's economic cycles, 3) evaluate fiscal policy maker's perception of economic conditions and its intention by reviewing the budget proposals. Although regression analysis shows that overall fiscal policy, especially expenditure side, has properly responded to economic conditions, average FIs do not show the significant difference between expansionary and recessionary periods. It is inconclusive whether the fiscal policy timing has been proper. Budget proposals show that actual fiscal policy stance has been sometimes inconsistent with the policy intention, which implies that it is hard to utilize fiscal policy actively to stabilize the economy.

• Journal of the Society of Naval Architects of Korea
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• v.51 no.6
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• pp.548-555
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• 2014

As a considerable, experimental approach, an Auto-carriage type of $CO_2$ welding machine and a MIG(Metal Inert Gas) welding robot under inert gas atmosphere were utilized in order to realize Al 5083 welding applied to hull and relevant components of green Al leisure ships. This study aims at investigating the effect of welding conditions(current, voltage, welding speed, etc) on thermal deformation that occurs as welding operation and tensile characteristics after welding, by using Al 5083, non-ferrous material, applied to manufacturing of co-environmental Al leisure ships. With respect to welding condition to minimize the thermal deformation, 150A and 16V at the wire-feed rate of 6mm/sec were acquired in the process of welding Al 5083 through an auto carriage type of $CO_2$ welding feeder. As to tensile characteristics of Al 5083 welding through a MIG welding robot, most of tensile specimens showed the fracture behavior on HAZ(Heat Affected Zone) located at the area joined with weld metal, except for some cases. Especially, for the case of the Al specimen with 5mm thickness, 284.62MPa of tensile strength and 11.41% of elongation were obtained as an actual allowable tensile stress-strain value. Mostly, after acquiring the optimum welding condition, the relevant welding data and technical requirements might be provided for actual welding operation site and welding procedure specification(WPS).

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Gas
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.38-45
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• 2018

Jet fire, pool fire, and vapor cloud explosion are major accident scenarios in LPG filling station. The protection wall would mitigate radiation effect in a jet fire. In case of a pool fire, the protection wall would restrict expanding the pool area. The protection wall might both obstruct the dispersion of released vapor and protect blast overpressure in a vapor cloud explosion scenario. In this paper, An availability assessment method of the protection wall how much reduce damage to receptors is proposed. Additionally application cases are presented for the effectiveness of protection wall in the LPG filling station. The study shows that the protection wall can effectively reduce the death probabilities of receptors located behind the wall in cases of the jet fires and the vapor cloud explosions.

• International Journal of Advanced Culture Technology
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.236-242
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• 2020

In this paper, we present the improvement in low moisturizing ability and stability that existing skin softeners have due to the low oil content, by developing skin softener using nanoemulsion of phospholipid liposome, based on the properties of nanoemulsion in cosmetic formulation. In this study, two types of oil; dimethicone (DC 200/6cs) or medium chain triglyceride (MCT), and two kinds of lecithin; unsaturated or saturated were respectively applied to produce nanoemulsion. In the particle size analysis of nanoemulsion, the droplet size of nanoemulsion containing DC200/6cs and unsaturated lecithin was the smallest, and all nanoemulsion showed high stability in the measurement of zeta potential. Therefore, with the smallest particle size and high stability, moisture contents and trans epidermal water loss(TEWL) were measured using the skin softener of DC200/6cs and unsaturated lecithin contained nanoemulsion, and the measurement was compared with the non-oil skin softener and the skin softener with only small amount of oil. The results showed that the moisture content of the skin softener using nanoemulsion increased greatly than other two skin softeners, showing high hydration ability and water retention capacity, and TEWL decreased greatly, therefore preventing the evaporation of moisture from the skin. As a result, the oil content and stability of the skin softener was improved by utilizing nanoemulson based of phospholipid liposome, and it is expected to be used in various ways in cosmetic industry.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.20 no.5
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• pp.697-711
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• 2004

Severe haze, mist, and fog phenomena occurred in the central part of Korea during 15~25 May 2003 resulted in poor visibility and air quality. When these phenomena occurred, Korean peninsula was under the effects of anticyclone. The atmosphere was stable, and wind speed was so weak. Under this meteorological conditions, air quality was worse and worse. The characteristics of aerosol in Seoul, Incheon, and Gosan (Jeju) during this period are investigated from the $PM_{10}$. TSP concentrations and aerosol number concentrations. Concentrations of $PM_{10}$ and TSP measured at KMA increased upto 176 and 230 J.${\mu}g/m^3$ on 22 May 2003, respectively. Aerosol number concentrations of size range from 0.82 to 6.06 ${\mu}m$ increased in Seoul on 17, 19, and 21~24 May 2003, and the concentrations of $NO_2$ and $SO_2$had maximum value of 0.165 ppm at Gwanak Mt. and 0.036 ppm at Guro-dong on 23 May 2003, respectively. Result from analysis on heavy metal elements showed high concentrations of Zn, Pb, Cr, Ni, Cu, and Cd during 20~24 May 2003. This event is examined by comprehensive analyses of synoptic weather conditions, satellite images, concentrations of suspended particles and air pollutants, and heavy metal elements.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Propulsion Engineers
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.37-43
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• 2004

Water-jet trajectory visualization and velocity deficits from a high pressurized steam-generator nozzles were experimentally observed. In order to find an optimal nozzle configuration. several parameters affecting plugging and erosion onto the steam generator tube were quantitatively analyzed. For the experiments, a high-pressurized pump (pressure in use: 200 kg/$\textrm{cm}^2$, 15 HP, 11 kW, output flow Q : 301/min) was utilized. Visualization, velocity distribution, and spray growth rate with different nozzle configurations have been mainly focused using a 2-D PDPA system. The results indicated that trajectories along the centerline regardless of their configurations has its potential core region. However, the phenomena from the peripheral part need to be meticulously considered. Accordingly, it is evident that quantitative velocity deficits at the outer region are outstanding due to the aerodynamical drag and entrainment.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.672-678
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• 2006

A new approach to fabricate an enzyme electrode was described based on the immobilization of horseradish peroxidase (HRP) on dithiobis-N-succinimidyl propionate (DTSP) self-assembled monolayer (SAM) formed on gold-nanoparticles (Au-NPs) which were electrochemically deposited onto glassy carbon electrode (GCE) surface. The overall surface area and average size of Au-NPs could be controlled by varying deposition time and were examined by Field Emission-Scanning Electron Microscope (FE-SEM). The $O_2$ reduction capability of the surface demonstrated that Au-NPs were thermodynamically stable enough to stay on GCE surface. The immobilized HRP electrode based on Au-NPs/GCE presented faster, more stable and sensitive amperometric response in the reduction of hydrogen peroxide than a HRP immobilized on DTSP/gold plate electrode not containing Au-NPs. The effects of operating potential, mediator concentration, and pH of buffer electrolyte solution on the performance of the HRP biosensor were investigated. In the optimized experimental conditions, the HRP immobilized GCE incorporating smaller-sized Au-NPs showed higher electrocatalytic activity due to the high surface area to volume ratio of Au-NPs in the biosensor. The HRP electrode showed a linear response to $H_2O_2$ in the concentration range of 1.4 $\mu$M-3.1 mM. The apparent Michaelis-Menten constant ($K _M\; ^{app}$) determined for the immobilized HRP electrodes showed a trend to be decreased by decreasing size of Au-NPs electrodeposited onto GCE.