• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.56 no.4
• /
• pp.393-404
• /
• 2004

Background : Nucleic acid hybridization has become an essential technique in the development of our understanding of gene structure and function. The quantitative analysis of hybridization has been used in the measurement of genome complexity and gene copy number. The filter hybridization assay is rapid, sensitive and can be used to measure RNAs complementary to any cloned DNA sequence. Methods : The authors assessed the accuracy, linearity, correlation coefficient and specificity of the hybridization depending on the added dose(0, 1, 5, and $10{\mu}g$) of non-specific rat spleen RNA to hybridization of surfactant protein A mRNA. Filter hybridization assays were used to obtain the equation of standard curve and thereby to quantitate the mRNA quantitation. Results : 1. Standard curve equation of filter hybridization assay between counts per minute (X) and spleen RNA input (Y) was Y=0.13X-19.35. Correlation coefficient was 0.98. 2. Standard curve equation of filter hybridization assay between counts per minute (X) and surfactant protein A mRNA transcript input (Y) was Y=0.00066X-0.046. Correlation coefficient was 0.99. 3. Standard curve equation of filter hybridization assay between counts per minute (X) and surfactant protein A mRNA transcript input (Y) after the addition of $1{\mu}g$ spleen RNA was Y=0.00056X-0.051. Correlation coefficient was 0.99. 4. Standard curve equation of filter hybridization assay between counts per minute (X) and surfactant protein A mRNA transcript input (Y) after the addition of $5{\mu}g$ spleen RNA was Y=0.00065X-0.088. Correlation coefficient was 0.99. 5. Standard curve equation of filter hybridization assay between counts per minute (X) and surfactant protein A mRNA transcript input (Y) after the addition of $10{\mu}g$ spleen RNA was Y=0.00051X-0.10. Correlation coefficient was 0.99. Conclusions : Comparison of cpm/filter in a linear range allowed accurate and reproducible estimation of surfactant protein A mRNA copy number irrespective of the addition dosage of non-specific rat spleen RNA over the range $0-10{\mu}g$.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.81 no.1
• /
• pp.42-48
• /
• 2018

Background: The diffusing capacity of the lung is influenced by multiple factors such as age, sex, height, weight, ethnicity and smoking status. Although a prediction equation for the diffusing capacity of Korea was proposed in the mid-1980s, this equation is not used currently. The aim of this study was to develop a new prediction equation for the diffusing capacity for Koreans. Methods: Using the data of the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, a total of 140 nonsmokers with normal chest X-rays were enrolled in this study. Results: Using linear regression analysis, a new predicting equation for diffusing capacity was developed. For men, the following new equations were developed: carbon monoxide diffusing capacity (DLco)=-10.4433-0.1434${\times}$age (year)+0.2482${\times}$heights (cm); DLco/alveolar volume (VA)=6.01507-0.02374${\times}$age (year)-0.00233${\times}$heights (cm). For women the prediction equations were described as followed: DLco=-12.8895-0.0532${\times}$age (year)+0.2145${\times}$heights (cm) and DLco/VA=7.69516-0.02219${\times}$age (year)-0.01377${\times}$heights (cm). All equations were internally validated by k-fold cross validation method. Conclusion: In this study, we developed new prediction equations for the diffusing capacity of the lungs of Koreans. A further study is needed to validate the new predicting equation for diffusing capacity.

• Korean journal of applied entomology
• /
• v.54 no.4
• /
• pp.401-407
• /
• 2015

This study describes the development of a method for monitoring Aphis gossypii in greenhouse cucumber fields that was used during 2013 and 2014. The dispersion pattern of A. gossypii was determined by commonly used methods: Taylor's power law (TPL) and Iwao's patchiness regression (IPR). The sample unit was determined by linear regression analysis between mean density of sample unit versus whole plant. The optimum sample unit for different plant growth stages was two leaves (median and the lowest + 1 leaf) when the total number of leaves was less than nine, and three leaves (4th, 7th from canopy, and the lowest +1 leaf) when the total number of leaves was greater than nine. A. gossypii showed an aggregated distribution pattern, as the slopes of both TPL and IPR lines were greater than 1. TPL provided a better description of the mean-variance relationship than did IPR. The slopes and intercepts of TPL and IPR from leaf samples did not differ between the surveyed years. Fixed precision levels (D) for a sequential sampling plan were developed using Green's and Kuno's equations based on the number of aphid in a leaf sample. Green's method was more efficient than Kuno's to stop sampling. The number of samples needed to estimate the density of A. gossypii increased at higher D levels and lower mean densities. The cumulative number of aphids needed to stop sampling increased at higher D levels and with fewer plants sampled. Thus to estimate 10 aphids per leaf, 13 plants needed to be sampled, and the cumulative number of aphids to stop sampling was 131.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
• /
• v.29 no.2
• /
• pp.141-152
• /
• 2020

The rapid on-site measurement of hydroponic nutrients allows for the more efficient use of crop fertilizers. This paper reports on the development of an embedded on-site system consisting of multiple ion-selective electrodes (ISEs) for the real-time measurement of the concentrations of macronutrients in hydroponic solutions. The system included a combination of PVC ISEs for the detection of NO₃, K, and Ca ions, a cobalt-electrode for the detection of H₂PO₄, a double-junction reference electrode, a solution container, and a sampling system consisting of pumps and valves. An Arduino Due board was used to collect data and to control the volume of the sample. Prior to the measurement of each sample, a two-point normalization method was employed to adjust the sensitivity followed by an offset to minimize potential drift that might occur during continuous measurement. The predictive capabilities of the NO₃ and K ISEs based on PVC membranes were satisfactory, producing results that were in close agreement with the results of standard analyzers (R² = 0.99). Though the Ca ISE fabricated with Ca ionophore II underestimated the Ca concentration by an average of 55%, the strong linear relationship (R² > 0.84) makes it possible for the embedded system to be used in hydroponic NO₃, K, and Ca sensing. The cobalt-rod-based phosphate electrodes exhibited a relatively high error of 24.7±9.26% in the phosphate concentration range of 45 to 155 mg/L compared to standard methods due to inconsistent signal readings between replicates, illustrating the need for further research on the signal conditioning of cobalt electrodes to improve their predictive ability in hydroponic P sensing.

• Progress in Medical Physics
• /
• v.25 no.4
• /
• pp.233-241
• /
• 2014

The aim of this study is to develop a new software tool for 3D dose verification using $PRESAGE^{REU}$ Gel dosimeter. The tool included following functions: importing 3D doses from treatment planning systems (TPS), importing 3D optical density (OD), converting ODs to doses, 3D registration between two volumetric data by translational and rotational transformations, and evaluation with 3D gamma index. To acquire correlation between ODs and doses, CT images of a $PRESAGE^{REU}$ Gel with cylindrical shape was acquired, and a volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) plan was designed to give radiation doses from 1 Gy to 6 Gy to six disk-shaped virtual targets along z-axis. After the VMAT plan was delivered to the targets, 3D OD data were reconstructed from 512 projection data from $Vista^{TM}$ optical CT scanner (Modus Medical Devices Inc, Canada) per every 2 hours after irradiation. A curve for converting ODs to doses was derived by comparing TPS dose profile to OD profile along z-axis, and the 3D OD data were converted to the absorbed doses using the curve. Supra-linearity was observed between doses and ODs, and the ODs were decayed about 60% per 24 hours depending on their magnitudes. Measured doses from the $PRESAGE^{REU}$ Gel were well agreed with the TPS doses at central region, but large under-doses were observed at peripheral region at the cylindrical geometry. Gamma passing rate for 3D doses was 70.36% under the gamma criteria of 3% of dose difference and 3 mm of distance to agreement. The low passing rate was resulted from the mismatching of the refractive index between the PRESAGE gel and oil bath in the optical CT scanner. In conclusion, the developed software was useful for 3D dose verification from PRESAGE gel dosimetry, but further improvement of the Gel dosimetry system were required.

• The Journal of the Petrological Society of Korea
• /
• v.20 no.1
• /
• pp.1-21
• /
• 2011

Eoil basalt in the Eoil basin and Yeonil basalt and its related volcanic rocks in Guryongpo and Daebo area were researched and analyzed to purse the tectonic settings and magma characteristics of those Tertiary volcanic rocks in the south-east Korean peninsula. It is highly suggested that zoning, resorption and sieve texture in plagioclase and reaction rim in pyroxene indicate unstable tectonic environments and complex volcanism in the study area. Volcanic rocks from Janggi basin are identified as basalt and basaltic andesite in TAS diagram and sub-alkaline series in terms of magma differentiation. $Na_2O$ and $K_2O$ show positive trend however FeO, CaO, MgO and $P_2O_5$ indicate negative trend in Harker variation diagram with $SiO_2$. Basaltic rocks from Eoil area are identified as calc-alkaline series in AFM diagram and show medium K series calc-alkaline in $K_2O-SiO_2$ diagram. Compatible trace elements of Co, Ni, V, Zn, and Sc in Yeonil basalt show negative trend with crystallization but incompatible trace element of Ba, Rb show positive trend with $SiO_2$ 0.81~1.00 of $Eu/Eu^*$ value suggests minor effect of plagioclase fractionation in Yeonil basaltic rocks. Plagioclase composition of Eoil basalt ranges from $An_{63.46-98.38}\;Ab_{1.62-32.96}\;Or_{0-3.58}$ (anorthite-labradorite) in core to $An_{40.89-82.44}\;Ab_{17.10-46.43}\;Or_{0-12.68}$ (bytownite-labradorite) in rim. $^{87}Sr/^{86}Sr$ and 143Nd;t44Nd ranges 0.704090~0.704717 and 0.512705~0.512822 respectively. Negative linear trends in 87Sr/86Sr and $^{143}Nd/^{144}Nd$ correlation diagram indicate that magma produced Yeonil basalt and basaltic andesite has been originated as partial melting product of mantle wedge by subducting Pacific plate affected by oceanic crust with less effect of continental crust indicating calc-alkaline magma characteristics.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.20 no.7
• /
• pp.1012-1018
• /
• 2010

The aim of this study was to determine whether Alzheimer's amyloid precursor protein (APP) is dysregulated in adipose tissues of C57BL/6 male mice by high-fat diet (HFD) induced obesity, aging, or streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetes. APP mRNA expression was examined by quantitative real-time PCR (QPCR) in subcutaneous (SAT) and epididymal adipose tissues (EAT) from mice in 8 different condition groups. By combining conditions of age (16 weeks/26 weeks of age), diet (normal diet (ND)/high-fat diet), and induction of diabetes (non-diabetic/diabetic), 88 mice were divided into 8 different groups. QPCR demonstrated that APP expression in SAT was significantly increased by about two-fold in HFD-induced obese mice compared to both 16 week-old and 26 week-old mice in the ND group (16 weeks p=0.001; 26 weeks p<0.0001), but no changes in EAT was found. Particular effects of aging on APP gene expression were not observed in either adipose tissue depots. Significantly decreased APP expression was found in SAT in STZ-induced diabetic mice fed on ND or HFD at 16 weeks of age (ND p<0.05; HFD p<0.01). Linear regression analysis demonstrated that APP expression levels correlated with body weight in both the non-diabetic group (R=0.657, p<0.0001, n=39) and the diabetic group (R=0.508, p=<0.0001, n=49), but did not correlate with plasma glucose levels, which suggests that decreased APP expression in STZ-induced diabetic mice is most likely due to weight loss rather than hyperglycemia. These data confirm APP dysregulation by weight changes in humans and suggest a possible role linking midlife obesity with the later development of amyloidogenesis in the brain of older patients with Alzheimer's disease.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
• /
• v.2 no.1
• /
• pp.7-13
• /
• 1994

This study was conducted to investigate the relationships between yearly variations of climatic factors and yearly variations of productivity in Alisma plantago L. In addition, correlation coefficients among yield and yield components were estimated. The data of yield and yield components were collected from the Statistical Year Book of Seungju province, Reserach Report of Seungju Extension Station of Rural Development Administration, and farmers for 10 years from 1983 to 1992. The meteorological data gathered at the Seungju Weather Station for the same period were used to find out the relationships between climatic factors and productivity. Yearly variation of the amount of precipitation in October and the minimum temperature in November were large with coefficients of variation(C.V.) of 106.44, 144.08%, respectively, but the variation of the average temperature, maximum temperature, minimum temperature from July to September were relatively small. Fresh weight and dry weight of roots vary greatly with C. V. of 30.62, 31.85%, respectivly. Plant height and stem length show more or less small C. V. of 5.51, 6. 26%, respectively and leaf width, leaf length, number of stems and root diameter show still less variation. Correlation coefficients between maximum temperature in November and plant height, stem diamter, number of stems, root diamter and dry weight of roots are positively significant at the 5% level. There are high signficant positive correlations observed, between yield and yield components. The maximum temperature would be used as a predictive variable for the estimation of dry weight of roots and number of stems. Simple linear regression equations by the least square method are estimated for number of stems $(Y_1)$ and the maximum temperature in November(X) as $Y_1=4.7114+0.5333\;X\;(R^2=0.4410)$, and for dry weight of roots$(Y_2)$ and the maximum temperature in November(X) as $Y_2=55.0405+14.3233\;X\;(R^2=0.4511)$

• Journal of Electrical Engineering and Technology
• /
• v.5 no.2
• /
• pp.342-351
• /
• 2010

The SiC-$ZrB_2$ composites were fabricated by combining 30, 35, 40, 45 and 50 vol. % of zirconium diboride ($ZrB_2$) powders with silicon carbide (SiC) matrix. The SiC-$ZrB_2$ composites and the sintered compacts were produced through spark plasma sintering (SPS) under argon atmosphere, and its physical, electrical, and mechanical properties were examined. Also, the thermal image analysis of the SiC-$ZrB_2$ composites was examined. Reactions between $\beta$-SiC and $ZrB_2$ were not observed via x-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. The apparent porosity of the SiC+30vol.%$ZrB_2$, SiC+35vol.%$ZrB_2$, SiC+40vol.%$ZrB_2$, SiC+45vol.%$ZrB_2$ and SiC+50vol.%$ZrB_2$ composites were 7.2546, 0.8920, 0.6038, 1.0981, and 10.0108%, respectively. The XRD phase analysis of the sintered compacts demonstrated a high phase of SiC and $ZrB_2$. Among the $SiC+ZrB_2$ composites, the SiC+50vol.%$ZrB_2$ composite had the lowest flexural strength, 290.54MPa, the other composites had more than 980MPa flexural strength except the SiC+30vol.%$ZrB_2$ composite; the SiC+40vol.%$ZrB_2$ composite had the highest flexural strength, 1011.34MPa, at room temperature. The electrical properties of the SiC-$ZrB_2$ composites had positive temperature coefficient resistance (PTCR). The V-I characteristics of the SiC-$ZrB_2$ composites had a linear shape in the temperature range from room to $500^{\circ}C$. The electrical resistivities of the SiC+30vol.%$ZrB_2$, SiC+35vol.%$ZrB_2$, SiC+40vol.%$ZrB_2$ SiC+45vol.%$ZrB_2$ and SiC+50vol.%$ZrB_2$ composites were $4.573\times10^{-3}$, $1.554\times10^{-3}$, $9.365\times10^{-4}$, $6.999\times10^{-4}$, and $6.069\times10^{-4}\Omega{\cdot}cm$, respectively, at room temperature, and their resistance temperature coefficients were $1.896\times10^{-3}$, $3.064\times10^{-3}$, $3.169\times10^{-3}$, $3.097\times10^{-3}$, and $3.418\times10^{-3}/^{\circ}C$ in the temperature range from room to $500^{\circ}C$, respectively. Therefore, it is considered that among the sintered compacts the SiC+35vol.%$ZrB_2$, SiC+40vol.%$ZrB_2$ and SiC+45vol.%$ZrB_2$ composites containing the most outstanding mechanical properties as well as PTCR and V-I characteristics can be used as an energy friendly ceramic heater or ohmic-contact electrode material through SPS.

• Journal of Intelligence and Information Systems
• /
• v.26 no.3
• /
• pp.37-50
• /
• 2020

Information security has become an important issue in the world. Various information and communication technologies, such as the Internet of Things, big data, cloud, and artificial intelligence, are developing, and the need for information security is increasing. Although the necessity of information security is expanding according to the development of information and communication technology, interest in information security investment is insufficient. In general, measuring the effect of information security investment is difficult, so appropriate investment is not being practice, and organizations are decreasing their information security investment. In addition, since the types and specification of information security measures are diverse, it is difficult to compare and evaluate the information security countermeasures objectively, and there is a lack of decision-making methods about information security investment. To develop the organization, policies and decisions related to information security are essential, and measuring the effect of information security investment is necessary. Therefore, this study proposes a method of constructing an investment portfolio for information security measures using game theory and derives an optimal defence probability. Using the two-person game model, the information security manager and the attacker are assumed to be the game players, and the information security countermeasures and information security threats are assumed as the strategy of the players, respectively. A zero-sum game that the sum of the players' payoffs is zero is assumed, and we derive a solution of a mixed strategy game in which a strategy is selected according to probability distribution among strategies. In the real world, there are various types of information security threats exist, so multiple information security measures should be considered to maintain the appropriate information security level of information systems. We assume that the defence ratio of the information security countermeasures is known, and we derive the optimal solution of the mixed strategy game using linear programming. The contributions of this study are as follows. First, we conduct analysis using real performance data of information security measures. Information security managers of organizations can use the methodology suggested in this study to make practical decisions when establishing investment portfolio for information security countermeasures. Second, the investment weight of information security countermeasures is derived. Since we derive the weight of each information security measure, not just whether or not information security measures have been invested, it is easy to construct an information security investment portfolio in a situation where investment decisions need to be made in consideration of a number of information security countermeasures. Finally, it is possible to find the optimal defence probability after constructing an investment portfolio of information security countermeasures. The information security managers of organizations can measure the specific investment effect by drawing out information security countermeasures that fit the organization's information security investment budget. Also, numerical examples are presented and computational results are analyzed. Based on the performance of various information security countermeasures: Firewall, IPS, and Antivirus, data related to information security measures are collected to construct a portfolio of information security countermeasures. The defence ratio of the information security countermeasures is created using a uniform distribution, and a coverage of performance is derived based on the report of each information security countermeasure. According to numerical examples that considered Firewall, IPS, and Antivirus as information security countermeasures, the investment weights of Firewall, IPS, and Antivirus are optimized to 60.74%, 39.26%, and 0%, respectively. The result shows that the defence probability of the organization is maximized to 83.87%. When the methodology and examples of this study are used in practice, information security managers can consider various types of information security measures, and the appropriate investment level of each measure can be reflected in the organization's budget.