• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.51 no.2
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• pp.135-141
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• 2024

Objective: Recently, oral antioxidants in combined forms have been used to treat men with idiopathic infertility. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of treatment with vitamin C, vitamin E, selenium, zinc, arginine, L-carnitine, and coenzyme Q10 on sperm quality parameters, DNA integrity, reproductive hormones, and pregnancy rates in men with infertility and idiopathic oligoasthenoteratozoospermia (OAT). Methods: A prospective study was conducted on 420 men with infertility and idiopathic OAT who took an oral supplement of antioxidant SP-Power tablets twice daily for 6 months. Semen quality, reproductive hormones, and the DNA fragmentation index (DFI) were evaluated at baseline and at 3 and 6 months after supplementation, using the World Health Organization 2021 guidelines. Results: No significant difference was observed in volume or the percentage of typical morphology during treatment. A significant improvement in sperm concentration was observed after supplementation (8.67±1.41, 12.17±1.91, and 19.01±0.86 at baseline, 3, and 6 months respectively, p<0.01). The total motility, progressive motility, and total motile sperm count also increased significantly (p<0.01), whereas the DFI decreased after 6 months. There was an increase in normal FSH levels and testosterone levels after 6 months of supplementation of antioxidant SP-Power but these differences were not statistically significant (p=not significant and p=0.06, respectively). Conclusion: Supplementation with SP-Power tablets improved sperm quality parameters, sperm DFI, some reproductive hormones, and pregnancy rates in men with infertility and idiopathic OAT, which could be attributed to the supplement's synergistic antioxidant action. Further studies are needed to determine the effects of supplementation on oxidative stress markers.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.52 no.6
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• pp.489-496
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• 2015

In this study, novel $Ag_2Se$ sensitized $TiO_2$ nanocomposites were prepared by facile sonochemical assisted synthesis method. The as-prepared products were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and N2 adsorption BET analysis. The as-prepared $Ag_2Se/TiO_2$ nanocomposites simultaneously possessed great adsorptivity for organic dyes and efficient charge separation properties. In the decolorization of rhodamine B, a significant enhancement in the reaction rate was observed for the $Ag_2Se/TiO_2$ nanocomposite compared to the cases of using pure P25 or $TiO_2$. The sonocatalysis activity was higher due to the greater formation of reactive radicals, as well as to the increase of the active surface area of the $Ag_2Se/TiO_2$ nanocomposite.

• The Korean Journal of Emergency Medical Services
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.223-234
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• 2021

Purpose: The purpose of the study is to check up the status of 119 emergency control centers usage. Therefore, the status of use of 119 emergency control centers and the incidence of pre-hospital cardiac arrest patients were investigated. Methods: The emergency activity daily reports and first aid diaries of 119 emergency control centers from January to December 2018 were reviewed. For more accurate status analysis, Among the first aid guidance received in the emergency rescue standard system, the cardiopulmonary resuscitation guide log was reviewed. Results: In 2018, the total usage of the 119 emergency control centers was 1,358,356 calls, hospital guidance werethe most commom (n=629,676, 46.4%), followed by first aid (n=428,027, 31.5%), disease consultation (n=170,238, 12.5%), medical oversight (n=111,188, 8.2%), and interhospital transfer (n=5,052, 0.4%). Regarding the user number per 1,000 persons, Jeju was the greatest at 48.0, whereas Changwon was the lowest at 13.0. A total number of dispatcher-assisted cardiopulmonary resuscitation was 12.181. The time from report to chest compression were 156.2±80.8 seconds for those with previous cardiopulmonary resuscitation training and 168.0±79.3 seconds for those without such training (p<.05). Conclusion: The ratio of first aid instructions, including dispatcher-assisted cardiopulmonary resuscitation, among total usage of the 119 emergency control centers increased. Therefore, additional efforts are required to improve the quality and expertise of information provided through the 119 emergency control centers.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.50 no.2
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• pp.70-79
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• 2024

Objectives: The surgical guide is a static computer-assisted device used for implant surgery planning and guidance. By taking an impression and referring to the patients' three-dimensional computed tomography scan of the desired implant site, a surgical guide can be created. During surgery, the surgical guide aids in achieving the designed implant placement position and direction. We examined and evaluated the long-term clinical outcomes of implant surgery using surgical guides. Materials and Methods: This study investigated a total of 15 patients with 32 implants that were placed using surgical guides from 2009 to 2011 with a mean follow-up period extended beyond 10 years. Patient demographics and implant survival rates were recorded. We analyzed marginal bone loss (MBL) by assessing the radiographs acquired at installation, three months after installation, and one month, one, two, and five years after prosthesis delivery. Results: The mean patient age was 57.33 years at implant placement. Of the 32 implants, five implants were placed in the anterior region and 27 implants were in the posterior region. Six implants failed and three of them were replaced, resulting in an 81.25% survival rate. The mean follow-up period was 10 years and nine months. Mean MBL compared to post-installation was significantly higher than at three months after installation, and one month, one, two, and five years after prosthesis delivery. Mean MBL at three months after installation, and one month, one year, and two years were significantly higher compared to the previous visit (P<0.05). However, MBL at five years after prosthesis delivery did not differ significantly compared to at two years. Conclusion: In this study, implant rehabilitation assisted by surgical guides exhibited favorable survival rates. With the limitation of the sample amount in this study, further research and more samples are required to evaluate the long-term clinical effectiveness of surgical guides.

• Horticultural Science & Technology
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.286-293
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• 2012

The resistance to Tobamovirus in Capsicum spp. has been known to be controlled by five different alleles ($L^0$, $L^1$, $L^2$, $L^3$, and $L^4$) of L locus on the telomere of long arm of pepper chromosome 11. To develop a set of molecular markers differentiating all the alleles of L locus, we used five pepper differential hosts including Capsicum annuum Early California Wonder (ECW, $L^0L^0$), C. annuum Tisana ($L^1L^1$), C. annuum Criollo de Morelos 334 (CM334, $L^2L^2$), Capsicum chinense PI 159236 ($L^3L^3$), and Capsicum chacoense PI 260429 ($L^4L^4$). Developing a series of CAPS or SCAR markers specifically linked to the alleles was allowed by the sequence comparison of PCR amplicons of the $L^3$-linked markers (189D23M, A339, and 253A1R) and BAC sequences (FJ597539 and FJ597541) in the pepper differentials. Genotypes deduced by these markers in 48 out of 53 $F_1$ hybrids of commercial pepper varieties were consistent with their phenotypes by bioassay using Tobamovirus pathotypes ($P_0$, $P_1$, and $P_{1,2$). Consequently, these markers can be useful to differentiate L alleles and for breeding Tobamovirus resistance in pepper with marker-assisted selection.

• ALGAE
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.87-96
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• 2011

Protein profiles of a common mixotrophic dinoflagellate, Prorocentrum micans, growing autotrophically and mixotrophically (fed on the cryptophyte Rhodomonas salina) were compared using two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE) to determine if they vary in different trophic modes. Approximately 2.3% of the detected proteins were differentially expressed in the different trophic modes. Twelve proteins observed only in the mixotrophic condition had lower pI value (<5) than the fifteen proteins observed only in the autotrophic condition (>5). When the internal amino acid sequences of five selected proteins differentially expressed between autotrophic and mixotrophic conditions were analyzed using matrix-assisted laser desorption time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry, two proteins that were specifically expressed in the autotrophic condition showed homology to glyceraldehyde-3-phosphatase dehydrogenase (GAPDH) and a bacterial catalase. Three mixotrophy-specific proteins showed homology to certain hypothetical proteins from an insect and bacteria. These results suggested the presence of certain gene groups that are switched on and off according to the trophic mode of P. micans.

• Advances in nano research
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.113-122
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• 2020

Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering (SERS) spectroscopy is a multifaceted surface sensitive methodology which exploits spectroscopy-based analysis for various applications. This technique is based on the massive amplification of Raman signals which were feeble previously in order to use them for appropriate identification at qualitative and quantitative in chemical as well as biological systems. This novel powerful technique can be utilized to identify pathogens such as bacteria and viruses. As far as SERS is concerned, one of the most studied problems has been functionalization of SERS active substrate. Metal colloids and nanostructures or microstructures synthesized using noble metals such as Au, Ag and Cu are considered to be SERS active. Silver and gold are extensively used as SERS active substrates due to chemical inertness and stability in air compare to copper. However, use of Cu as a suitable alternative has been taken into account as it is cheap. Herein, we have synthesized air-stable copper microstructures/nanostructures by chemical, electrochemical and microwave-assisted methods. In this paper, we have also discussed the use of as synthesized copper micro/nanostructures as inexpensive yet effective SERS active substrates for the fast identification of micro-organisms like Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.220-226
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• 2002

Amorphous $Sb_{2-x}Bi_xTe_3$ (x = 0.0, 0.5 and 1.0) thin films were prepared by vacuum evaporation. The resistivity of 7he films decreases from 1.4{\times}10^{-2}$ to $8.84{\times}10^{-5}\Omega cm$ and the type of conductivity changes from p to n with the increase of the x value of the films. D.C. conduction studies on these films ate performed at various electric fields in the temperature range of 303-403 K. At low electric fields, two types of conduction mechanisms, i.e. the variable range hopping and the phonon assisted hopping are found to be responsible for the conduction, depending upon the temperature. The activation energy decreases from 0.082 to 0.076 eV in the temperature range of 303-363 K and from 0.47-0.456 eV in the second range of 363-403 K, indicating the shift of the Fermi level towards the conduction band edge and hence the change of the conduction from P to n type with the increase of the Bi concentration. Poole-Frankel emission dominates at high fields. The shape of the potential well of the localized centre is deduced and the mean free path of the charge carriers is also calculated.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.19 no.12
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• pp.1691-1695
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• 2006

The identification method that inflects real time ultrasound (RUT) and the potential application of marker assisted selection (MAS) for improvement of a cow population of Hanwoo (Korean Native cattle) was studied. The averages of RUT longissimus muscle area, RUT fat thickness, and RUT marbling score scanned at the 13th rib were 55.78 $cm^2$, 3.70 mm and 3.83 scores, respectively. We investigated the effects of the two SNPs (Kpn2 I and Msp I) in the leptin gene on carcass traits for Hanwoo cows by using ultrasound measurements. Genotype CC of the Kpn2 I had a significantly higher effect on back fat thickness (4.23 mm) and longissimus muscle area (57.57 $cm^2$) than genotype TT (3.14 mm, 53.93 $cm^2$, respectively, p<0.05). Genotype AA of the Msp I had a significantly higher effect only on marbling score (5.37) than genotype AB (3.57, p<0.05) and BB (3.37, p<0.05). Significant effects of SNPs in the leptin gene were found for the ultrasound measures of body composition in live cattle.

• The Journal of Korean Orthopaedic Ultrasound Society
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2012

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to report the preliminarily result of the radiologic disappearance of the calcific material, regardless of the size, type or location, on one-time ultrasonographic (US) assisted needling for calcific tendinitis of the shoulder. Materials and Methods: From March to August 2011, 46 patients (47 shoulders) with symptomatic calcific tendinitis were treated by one-time US assisted needling. Initially, a diagnostic US was performed with patient to determine the locations, numbers and sizes of calcific deposits. After 1% lidocaine local anesthesia, the calcific material was punctured with an 18-gauge needle under US monitoring. If no calcific material was aspirated after 2 or 3 additional attempts, the deposits was performed multiple puncture to achieve decompression. And then all patients were performed subacromial corticosteroid injection. All patients were followed up 4 weeks after procedure. To assess the radiologic disappearance after one-time US assisted needling, simple radiographs of the treated shoulder were performed and size, dense, and morphology of the calcific deposits were compared with those in baseline radiographs. For clinical evaluations, visual analogue scale for pain and function (PVAS and FVAS), and American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) score were assessed. Results: There were 11 male and 35 female patients with the mean age of 53.8 years (28-71). The morphology of the calcific deposits were 31 type A and 16 type B by French Arthroscopic Society classification and mean size was $2.9{\pm}6.7$ mm before the procedure. At 4 weeks after the index procedure, the radiographic unchanged group was included in 10 cases and changed group was 37 cases. No intergroup difference for the clinical results after the procedure was evident, but group FAS classification before the procedure was significantly different (p=0.011). Conclusion: At 4 weeks after one-time US assisted needling for calcific tendinitis of the shoulder, the radiographic size- or dense-changed cases were showed in 79%, regardless of the size, type or location of the calcific material. But the radiographic nearly or complete disappearance were showed in only 21%.