• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.409-427
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• 1998

Insamjungchuntang has been used in Korea for many centuries as a treatment for respiratory disease. The effect of Insamjungchuntang on tracheal smooth muscle is not known. The purpose of the present study is to determine the effect of Insamjungchuntang on histamine and acetylcholine induced tracheal smooth muscle contraction in rats and guinea pigs. Guinea pig (500 g, male) and Sprague Dawley rats (200 g, male) were killed by $CO_2$ exposure and a segment (8-10 mm) of the thoracic trachea from each rat and guinea pig was cut into equal segments and mounted 'in pairs' in a tissue bath. Contractile force was measured with force displacement transducers under 0.5 g loading tension. The dose of histamine (His) and acetylcholine (Ach) which evoked 50% of maximal response $(ED_{50})$ was obtained from cumulative dose response curves for histamine and acetylcholine$(10^{-7}{\sim}10^{-4}\;M)$. Contractions evoked by His ($ED_{50}$) and Ach $(ED_{50})$ were inhibited significantly by Insamjungchuntang. In guinea pig tracheal smooth muscle, the mean percent inhibition of acetylcholine induced contraction was $38.58\(p<0.05)\;after\;10{\mu}l/ml$ Insamjungchuntang, $90.75\(p<0.01)\;after\;30{\mu}l/ml$. Insamjungchuntang and $133.17\(p<0.01)\;after\;100{\mu}l/ml$ Insamjungchuntang. In rat tracheal smooth muscle, the mean percent inhibition of acetylcholine induced contraction was $10.0\(p<0.05)\;after\;10{\mu}l/ml$ Insamjungchuntang, $80.71\(p<0.01)\;after\;30{\mu}/ml$ Insamjungchuntang and $118.29\(p<0.01)\;after\;100{\mu}l/ml$ Insamjungchuntang. Also, in guinea pig tracheal smooth muscle, the mean percent inhibition of histamine induced contraction was $45.5\(p<0.01)\;after\;10{\mu}l/ml$ lnsamjungchuntang, and $93.17\(p<0.01)\;after\;30{\mu}l/ml$. lnsamjungchuntang $134.50\(p<0.01)\;after\;100{\mu}l/ml$ Insamjungchuntang. In rat tracheal smooth muscle, the mean percent inhibition of histamine induced contraction was $37.83\(p<0.01)\;after\;10{\mu}l/ml$ lnsamjungchuntang, $90.5\(p<0.01)\;after\;30{\mu}l/ml$ Insamjungchuntang and $135.17\(p<0.01)\;after\;100{\mu}l/ml$ Insamjungchuntang. Propranolol $(10^{-7}\;M)$ slightly but significantly attenuated the inhibitory effects of Insamjungchuntang. Following treatment with propranolol, the mean percent inhibition caused by $100{\mu}l/ml$. Insamjungchuntang fell to 46.42% in guinea pig induced by acetylcholine contraction and by $100{\mu}l/ml$ Insamjungchuntang fell to 5.43% (p<0.05) in rat induced by acetylcholine contraction and the mean percent inhibition caused by $100{\mu}l/ml$ Insamjungchuntang fell to 49.0% in guinea pig induced by histamine contraction and by $100{\mu}l/ml$ Insamjungchuntang fell to 48.6% (p<0.05) in rat induced by histamine contraction. Indomethacin and methylene blue $(10^{-7}\;M)$ did not significantly alter the inhibitory effect of lnsamjungchuntang. Also, I could find the effects of lnsamjungchuntang and Insamjungchuntanggamorphine on the tracheal smooth muscle in guinea pig and rat did not change significantly. These results indicate that Insamjungchuntang can relax histamine and acetylcholine-induced contraction of guinea pig and rat tracheal smooth muscle, and that this inhibition involves sympathetic effects.

• The Journal of the Korean bone and joint tumor society
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.118-125
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• 2005

Purpose: The expression of apoptosis-related genes, such as survivin, bcl-2, and bax has been examined in the human osteosarcoma and then evaluated the correlation with clinical data of patients. Materials and Methods: Fifty human osteosarcoma specimens were established from incisional biopsy and examination of survivin, bcl-2, and bax by immunohistochemical study was performed. We investigated the correlation of survivin, bcl-2, bax and their two or three combined expressions with clinical data including the response of chemotherapy, local recurrence, distance metastasis, and oncologic outcome. Results: Survivin was showed in 26 cases (52%), bcl-2 in 23 cases (46%), and bax in 21 cases (42%) osteosarcoma. And coexpression of survivin and bcl-2 was showed in 19 cases (38%), survivin and bax in 13 cases (26%), bcl-2 and bax in 8 cases (16%), and all three expression was showed in 8 cases (16%). There was no correlation between their apoptosis related gene and histologic difference, the presence of local recurrence and distant metastasis. Whereas neoadjuvant chemotherapy response correlated with bcl-2 expression (P=0.04), and survivin and bcl-2 coexpression (P=0.044) with poor chemoresponse. The rate of died of disease was correlated with bcl-2 (P=0.001), survivin and bcl-2 coexpression (P=0.027) with bad outcome. Survival curves of bcl-2 (P=0.0075), survivin and bcl-2 (P=0.0012) was showed negative correlation in the Kaplan-Meier method. Conclusion: The apoptosis related gene expression was relatively high in osteosarcoma, bcl-2 expression was correlated with poor chemotherapy response and poor survival rate, but survivin was correlated with this oncologic outcome only in the bcl-2 coexpression. The examination of immunohistochemical stain of apoptosis related gene in osteosarcoma could be helpful in the judgment of osteosarcoma prognosis.

• Korean journal of applied entomology
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• v.16 no.4 s.33
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• pp.199-208
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• 1977

Activities of various hydrolytic enzymes produced by three plant pathogenic fungi, Sclerotium rolfsii Sacc., Sclerotinia sclerotiorum (Lieb.) deBary and Helminthosporium sigmoideum var. irregulare Crallery et Tullius, were measured. Activties and amounts of the enzymes in mycelia, cultural filtrates, and sclerotia(except of sclerotia of H. sigmoideum var. irregulare) were estimated at various pH levels in order to find out optimal pH for their enzymatic activities. Enzymes such as cellulase (ex), invertase, xylanase, $\beta-amylase$, polymethylgalacturonase, polygalacturonase, phosphatase and protease were estimated. Culture solution for production of enzymes was prepared by adding of 10g, D-glucose, 1.3g $NH_4NO_3,\; 0.5g\; MgSO_4,\;7H_2O,\; and\; 1.0g\; KH_2PO_4$ into 1 liter of potato decoction plus 2ml of micro element solution consisting of 0.2mg. Fe, 0.2mg Zn, and 0.1mg Mn as the sulphates into 1 liter of distilled water. All tested mycelia and cultural filtrates were obtained from the cultures incubarted in previous solution for ten days at $25^{\circ}C$, and sclerotia were harvested from PDA plates of 3. days old, The crude enzyme solutions were prepared according to the method of Miyazaki etal. Ten days after incubation, activities of Cx produced by Scl. sclerotiorum were higher than those of the other fung and each of Cx from three fungi showed different pH optima, such as S. rolfsii and Scl. schlerotiorum in acid side (around pH 3.0), H. sigmoideum var. irregulare in neutral side (around pH 6.3). Invertase activities of S. rolfsii were 20 times higher than those of the other fungi in all samples. All tested fungi, however, showed no significant difference between the enzymatic activities of their cultural filtrate and mycelia and the activities in sclerotia of S. rolfsii and Scl. sclerotiorum were hardly recognized. There were multiple peaks on the xylanase activity curves of three fungi in terms of pH values. High activities of the xylanase were revealed in sclerotia of S. rolfsii and Scl. sclerotiorum, and in mycelia of H. sigmoideum var. irregulare. The highest activities of $\beta-amylase$ were shown both in mycelia and cultural filtrate of H. sigmoideum var. irregulae among the tested fungi, and their optimal pH was 6.2 in both mycelia and cultural filtrate. In the S. rofsii and Sel. sclerotiorum, however, the activities of cultural filtrates were higher than those of the other fungi, and optimal pH was 3.0 and 6.2 for cultural filtrate and both mycelia and sclerotia, respectively. Activities of PMG were high in cultural filtrates of all tested fungi, especially in Scl. sclerotiorum and H. sigmoideum var. irregulare. Mycelia of themalso showed the considerable activities. Optimal pH for enzymatic activities were variable with thekind of fungi or with the samples measured. The highest activities of PG were presented by mycelia of S. rolfsii and Scl. sclerotiorum. $9.l\mu /min.\; and\; 9.5\mu g/min.$, respectively. Optimal pH for activity of PG in mycelia was around 4.5 in S. rolfsii and around 3.0 in Scl. sclerotiorum. Phosphatase of S. rolfsii and Scl. sclerotiorum was more active in acid side (optimal PH3. 5) and that of H. sigmoideum var. irregulare showed one peak each in acid, neutral and alkaline side. But the highest peak was at pH 9.5. Protease of all tested fungi was more active at pH 10.0, especially that of the cultural filtrate of H. sigmoideum var. irregualre.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.402-408
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• 2003

This study was done to present a criterion in selection of the most proper light sources and materials by measuring metamerism index(MI) of the light curing composite resins with spectrocolorimeter. Metamerism is defined when two objects appear to be the same color in one illuminant but different in another. This is due to the fact that they have different spectral curves that fail to match under the second illuminant. In this study, A1 & A3 shade of five light curing composite resins (Esthet-X, Filteck Z250, Filteck A110. Charisma. Vitalescence) were chosen based on Vita shade. Five samples were made for shade of each product with Teflon mold (diameter: 15mm, thickness: 2mm). Metamerism index of each samples on a Barium sulfate plate($L^{*}=96.54,{\;}a^{*}=0.19,{\;}b^{*}=0.01$) prepared for sample fixation were measured with spectrocolorimeter(Miniscan XE plus. Model 4000s. Hunter Lab. USA) by applying standard light source D^{65}, C. Fcw, TL84 and A. Standardization was done with reference standard(X=80.8, Y=85.7, Z=90.8) and light trap. The results were as follows. 1. Different resins with same Vita shade showed recognizable color difference (${\delta}E^{*}>2$). 2. All composites had MI below accepted value 0.5 between standard illuminant(D$_{65}$, C, & A) and below 1.5 under fluorescent condition (Fcw & TL84). 3. MI value between $D^{65}$ and A showed higher value than MI value between other source of light(p<0.01). 4. All resins except Z250 showed MI value that A3 is higher than A1 between $D^{65}$ and A(p<0.05).except Z250 showed MI value that A3 is higher than A1 between $D^{65}$ and A(p<0.05).

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.48 no.10
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• pp.1126-1131
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• 2005

Purpose : Bronchial hyperresponsiveness(BHR) is considered a hallmark of asthma. Increased levels of eosinophil cationic protein(ECP) have been identified in serum of asthma patients. Several studies have examined the relationship between serum ECP and bronchial responsiveness, expressed as methacholine $PC_{20}$ in asthmatic patients, with conflicting results. The aims of this study were to examine the relationship between serum ECP and ${\Delta}FVC$, another index of bronchial responsiveness, which reflects increased maximal airway response. Methods : Six to 8-year-old children with asthma(n=109) underwent methacholine bronchoprovocation testing. The $PC_{20}$ dose of methacholine and ${\Delta}FVC$ were calculated for each individual from the methacholine dose response curves. Serum ECP levels and blood total eosinophil counts were also measured. Results : Serum ECP correlated with ${\Delta}FVC$(r=0.217, P=0.023), as well as $PC_{20}$(r=-0.208, P=0.030). However, blood eosinophil counts failed to show any correlations with ${\Delta}FVC$(r=0.085, P=0.378) or $PC_{20}$(r=-0.148, P=0.125). ${\Delta}FVC$ did not correlate with $PC_{20}$(r=-0.079, P=0.417). Conclusion : Blood eosinophil activation is associated with both components of BHR including increased sensitivity and increased maximal response in 6-8 year old children with asthma.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.1-26
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• 1997

Chunggeumtang has been used in Korea for many centuries as a treatment for respiratory disease. The effect of Chunggeumtang on tracheal smooth muscle is not konwn. The purpose of the present study is to determine the effect of Chunggeumtang on histamine and acetylcholine induced tracheal smooth muscle contraction in rats and guinea pigs. Guinea pig(500g, male) and Sprague Dawley rats (250g, male) were killed by $CO_2$ exposure and a segment (8-10mm) of the thoracic trachea from each rat and guinea pig was cut into equal swegments and mounted 'in pairs' in a tissue bath. Contractile force was measured with force diplacement transducers under 0.5g loading tension. The dose of histamine (His) and acetylcholine (Ach) which evoked 50% of maximal response ($ED_{50}$) was obtained from cumulative dose response curves for histamine and acetylcholine($10^{-7}{\sim}10^{-4}M$). Contractions evoked by His ($ED_{50}$) and Ach ($ED_{50}$) were inhibited significantly by Chunggeumtang. In guinea pig tracheal smooth muscle, the mean percent inhibition of acetylcholine induced contraction was $6.1%after\;30{\mu}l/ml$ Chunggeumtang, and 49.4% (p<0.01) after $100{\mu}l/ml$ Chunggeumtang. In rat tracheal smooth muscle, the mean percent inhibition of acetylcholine induced contraction was $6.7%\;after\;30{\mu}l/ml$ Chunggeumtang, and $54.2%\;(p<0.01)\;after\;100{\mu}l/ml$ Chunggeumtang. Also, in guinea pig tracheal smooth muscle, the mean percent inhibition of histamine induced contraction was $30.6%\;(p<0.05)\;after\;30{\mu}l/ml$ Chunggeumtang, and $53.0%\;(p<0.01)\;after\;100{\mu}l/ml$ Chunggeumtang. In rat tracheal smooth muscle, the mean percent inhibition of histamine induced contraction was $24.1%\;(p<0.05)\;after\;30{\mu}l/ml$ Chunggeumtang, and $55.3%\;(p<0.01)\;after\;100{\mu}l/ml$ Chunggeumtang. Propranolol and indomethacin($10^{-7}M$) slightly but significantly attenuated the inhibitory effects of Chunggeumtang. Following treatment with propranolol, the mean percent inhibition caused by $100{\mu}l/ml$ Chunggeumtang fell to 27.6% in guinea pig induced by acetylcholine contraction and by $100{\mu}l/ml$ Chunggeumtang fell to 28.7% (p<0.05) in rat induced by acetylcholine contraction and the mean percent inhibition caused by $100{\mu}l/ml$ Chunggeumtang fell to 16.2% in guinea pig induced by histamine contraction and by $100{\mu}l/ml$ Chunggeumtang fell to 28.7% (p<0.05) in rat induced by histamine contraction. Indomethacin, the mean percent inhibition caused by $100{\mu}l/ml$ Chunggeumtang fell to 20.0% in guinea pig induced by acetylcholine contraction and by $100{\mu}l/ml$ Chunggeumtang fell to 16.9% (p<0.05) in rat induced by acetylcholine contraction and the mean percent inhibition caused by $100{\mu}l/ml$ Chunggeumtang fell to 16.4% in guinea pig induced by histamine contraction and by $100{\mu}l/ml$ Chunggeumtang fell to 23.1% (p<0.05) in rat induced by histamine contraction. Methylene blue($10^{-7}M$) did not significantly alter the inhibitory effect of Chunggeumtang. Also, I could find the effects of Chunggeumtang and Chunggeumtanggamorphine on the tracheal smooth muscle in guinea pig and rat did not change significantly. These results indicate that Chunggeumtang can relax histamine and acetylcholine-induced contraction of guinea pig and rat tracheal smooth muscle, and that this inhibition involves sympathetic effects and the release of cyclooxygenase products.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.16
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• pp.6923-6928
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• 2015

Background: Early detection of various kinds of cancers nowadays is needed including colorectal cancer due to the highly significant effects in improving cancer treatment. The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential value of adiponectin, visfatin and resistin as early biomarkers for colorectal cancer patients. Materials and Methods: Serum levels of adiponectin, visfatin and resistin were measured by a sandwich-enzyme-linked (ELISA) assay technique in 114 serum samples comprising 34 patients with colorectal cancer (CRC), 27 with colonic polyps (CP), 24 with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and 29 healthy controls. The diagnostic accuracy of each serum marker was evaluated using receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. Results: The mean concentration of adiponectin was significantly higher in CRC and CP groups than IBD and control groups (P-value <0.05). Also the mean concentration of serum resistin was significantly elevated in the IBD and control groups compared to CRC and CP groups (P-value = 0.014). However, no significant difference was noted in patients of the CRC and CP groups. On the other hand, the mean concentration of visfatin was significantly elevated in CRC and control groups compared to CP and IBD groups (P-value = 0.03). ROC analysis curves for the studied markers revealed that between CRC and IBD groups serum level of adiponectin had a sensitivity of 76.7% and a specificity of 76% at a cut off value of 3940, +LR being 3.2 and -LR 0.31 with AUC 0.852, while serum level of adiponectin between CP and IBD had a sensitivity of 77.8% and a specificity of 75% at a cut off value of 3300, with +LR=3.11 and -LR = 0.3 with AUC 0.852. On the other hand the serum level of visfatin between CRC and CP groups had a sensitivity of 65.5% and a specificity of 66.7 at a cut off value of 2.4, +LR being 1.67 and -LR 0.52 with AUC 0.698. Also the serum level of resistin had a sensitivity of 62.5% and a specificity of 70.3% at a cut off value of 24500, with +LR=2.1 and -LR = 0.53 with AUC 0.685 between control and other groups. On the other hand by comparing control vs CP groups resistin had a sensitivity of 81.8% and a specificity of 70.8% at a cut off value of 17700, with +LR=2.8 and -LR = 0.26 with AUC 0.763 while visfatin had a sensitivity of 68.2% and a specificity of 70.8% at a cut off value of 2.7, with +LR=2.34 and -LR = 0.0.45 with AUC 0.812. Conclusions: These findings support potential roles of adiponectin, visfatin and resistin in early detection of CRC and discrimination of different groups of CRC, CP or IBD patients from normal healthy individuals.

• Journal of Sericultural and Entomological Science
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.32-36
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• 1991

The study has been carried out to acquire some basic informations about Bacillus thuringiensis for developing the microbial pesticide. Three strains of Bacillus thuringiensis var. Kurstaki, dendrolimus and aizawai, were used in the experiments as follows. Growth characteristics of each strain were examined and parasporal protein crystals were isolated from the mixtures of spores and protein crystals by the new method of centrifugation in two-layer cushion of Renograffin using a fixed angle rotor. The results are as follows. 1. No difference was shown in growth characterestics among three strains of B. thuringiensis. In growth curves, all strains reached to exponential phase by 2 hr and stationary phase by 7-8 hr after inoculation. 2. The pH of the culture media during exponential growth stage decreased about 1.4 of a pH unit at the beginning of sporulation, but recovered during the early stage of sporulation and then remained nearly constant during the later stage. 3. As 10$m\ell$ sample was applied to two-layer cushion of Renograffin and then centrifuged for 1hr at 27,000g a fixed angle rotor, the purity and recovery ratio was 99.9% and 5.8%, respectively. It has been shown that the new method for the isolation of parasporal protein crystals was more efficient than any from the estabilished methods.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.147-152
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• 2010

The capability of the solvents for extracting the bioactive saponins from the roots of Platycodon grandiflorum (Campanulaceae) was investigated to obtain an ideal extract which contained bioactive saponins with high quality and high quantity. The content of eight representative saponins in extracts, such as deapioplatycoside E, platycoside E, platyconic acid A and platycodin D, platycodin $D_3$, platycodin $D_2$, polygalacin $D_2$, polygalacin D were analyzed simultaneousely by the modified HPLC analytical method. The validation test of the modified qualitative and quantitative analytical method employing the ELSD equipped HPLC for eight representative saponins in the roots extract of P. grandiflorum showed a good linearity, precision and accuracy. the correlation coefficient ($r^2$) values of the calbration curves for each saponins were observed to be over 0.9990. LOD and LOQ of each saponin was calculated as $0.10{\mu}g{\sim}0.40{\mu}g$ (LOD) and $0.40{\mu}g{\sim}0.80{\mu}g$ (LOQ), respectively. Recovery rates of each saponin were also calculated as over 98%, respectively. With exception of two saponins, platyconic acid A and platycodin D, The content of eight saponins in extracts was decreased proportionally to the increment of the water ratio of solvent for extraction. Consequently, as aquous alcohol was used as a solvent for extracting the saponin components from powdered roots of P. grandiflorum, the water content in the aquous alcohol was seemed to be a critical factor for extracting efficacy. The 60-80% ratio of alcohol in the aquous alcohol were deduced to be suitable and recommendable for the preparation of roots extract of P. grandiflorum which contained saponins with high quality and high quantity.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.28 no.7
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• pp.903-913
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• 2007

In this study, the researchers compared the S-wave velocity structures obtained by two kinds of dispersion curves: phase and group dispersions from a tidal flat located in the SW coast of the Korean peninsula. The ${\tau}-p$ stacking method was used for the phase velocity and two different methods (multiple filtering technique: MFT and continuous wavelet transform: CWT) for the phase velocity. It was difficult to separate higher modes from the fundamental mode phase velocities using the ${\tau}-p$ method, whereas the separation of different modes of group velocity were easily achieved by both MFT and CWT. Of the two methods, CWT was found to be more efficient than MFT. The spatial resolutions for the inversion results of the fundamental mode for both phase and group velocities were good for only a very shallow depth of ${\sim}1.5m$. On the other hand, the spatial resolutions were good up to ${\sim}4m$ when both the fundamental and the 1st higher mode poop velocities obtained by CWT were used for S-wave inversion. This implies that the 1st higher mode Rayleigh waves contain more information on the S-wave velocity in deeper subsurface. The researchers applied the CWT method to obtain the fundamental and the 1st higher mode poop velocities of the S-wave velocity structure of a tidal flat located in SW coast of the Korean peninsula. Thea the S-wave velocity structures were compared with the borehole description of the study area.