• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
• /
• v.38 no.1
• /
• pp.41-51
• /
• 2004

PURPOSE: Tourette's disorder (TD), which is characterized by multiple waxing and waning motor tics and one or more vocal tics, is known to be associated with abnormalities in the dopaminergic system. To testify our hypothesis that risperidone would improve tic symptoms of TD patients through the change of the dopaminergic system, we measured the dopamine transporter (DAT) densities between drug-naive children with TD and normal children, and investigated the DAT density before and after treatment with risperidone in drug-naive children with TD, using iodine-123 labelled $N-(3-iodopropen-2-yl)-2{\beta}-carbomethoxy-3beta-(4-chlorophenyl)tropane$ ($[^{123}I]IPT$) single photon omission computed tomography (SPECT). MATERIALS and METHODS: $[^{123}I]IPT$ SPECT Imaging and Yale Global Tic Severity Scale-Korean version (YGTSS-K) for assessing the tic symptom severity were carried out before and after treatment with risperidone for 8 weeks in nine drug-naive children with TD. Eleven normal children also underwent SPECT imaging 2 hours after an intravenous administration of $[^{123}I]IPT$. RESULTS: Drug-naive children with TD had a significantly greater increase in the specific/nonspecific DAT binding ratio of both basal ganglia compared with the normal children. However, no significant difference in the specific/nonspecific DAT binding ratio of the basal ganglia before and after treatment with risperidone in children with TD was found, although tic symptoms were significantly improved with risperidone. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that DAT densities are directly associated with the pathophysiology of TD, however, that the effect of risperidone on tic symptoms in children with TD is not attributed to the change of dopaminergic system.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
• /
• v.14 no.4
• /
• pp.205-212
• /
• 2009

To suggest possible to bioremediation by benthic microalgae Nitzschia sp. isolated from the Jinhae Bay, the studies investigated the effects o flight quality and quantity on the growth of Nitzschia sp. and its growth kinetics for phosphate investigated. The Nitzschia sp. was cultured under blue (450 nm), yellow (590 nm) and red wavelength (650 nm) using light emitting diode (LED) and mixed wavelengths using a fluorescent lamp. The maximum specific growth rate showed the Nitzschia sp. under blue wavelength, although photoinhibition was observed above $100\;{\mu}mol\;m^{-2}\;s^{-1}$. Mixed wavelengths were also observed by decreasing the maximum cell density from high irradiances (>$100\;{\mu}mol$ photons $m^{-2}\;s^{-1}$). The compensation photon flux density ($I_0$) calculated from the mixed wavelengths equated to a depth of 4-10 m in Jinhae Bay, and was lower in the summer season than the depth due to suspended matter (ca. 4 m). Thus, the suitable depth for maximum growth of Nitzschia sp. might be extremely limited. In the growth kinetics for phosphate, half-saturation constant ($K_s$) was similar among different wavelengths, although the maximum growth rate was varied among different wavelengths. Because the $K_s$ was high than that of the phytoplankton, Nitzschia sp. might have adapted to the high nutrient concentrations, and have effective nutrient storage in the cell quota. Thus, Nitzschia sp. may be a useful species for bioremediation of the benthic layer in polluted inner bays by means of irradiated specific wavelength as blue.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.38 no.5 s.250
• /
• pp.323-334
• /
• 2005

Background: Gene therapy is a new and promising option for the treatment of severe myocardial ischemia by therapeutic angiogenesis. The goal of this study was to elucidate the efficacy of therapeutic angiogenesis by using VEGF165 in large animals. Material and Method: Twenty-one pigs that underwent ligation of the distal left anterior descending coronary artery were randomly allocated to one of two treatments: intramyocardial injection of pCK-VEGF (VEGF) or intramyocardial injection of pCK-Null (Control). Injections were administered 30 days after ligation. Seven pigs died during the trial, but eight pigs from VEGF and six from Control survived. Echo-cardiography was performed on day 0 (preoperative) and on days 30 and 60 following coronary ligation. Gated myocardial single photon emission computed tomography imaging (SPECT) with $^{99m}Tc-labeled$ sestamibi was performed on days 30 and 60. Myocardial perfusion was assessed from the uptake of $^{99m}Tc-labeled$ sestamibi at rest. Global and regional myocardial function as well as post-infarction left ventricular remodeling were assessed from segmental wall thickening; left ventricular ejection fraction (EF); end systolic volume (ESV); and end diastolic volume (EDV) using gated SPECT and echocardiography. Myocardium of the ischemic border zone into which pCK plasmid vector had been injected was also sampled to assess micro-capillary density. Result: Micro-capillary density was significantly higher in the VEGF than in Control ($386\pm110/mm^{2}\;vs.\;291\pm127/mm^{2};\;p<0.001$). Segmental perfusion increased significantly from day 30 to day 60 after intramyocardial injection of plasmid vector in VEGF ($48.4\pm15.2\%\;vs.\;53.8\pm19.6\%;\;p<0.001$), while no significant change was observed in the Control ($45.1\pm17.0\%\;vs.\;43.4\pm17.7\%;\;p=0.186$). This resulted in a significant difference in the percentage changes between the two groups ($11.4\pm27.0\%\;increase\;vs.\;2.7\pm19.0\%\;decrease;\;p=0.003$). Segmental wall thickening increased significantly from day 30 to day 60 in both groups; the increments did not differ between groups. ESV measured using echocardiography increased significantly from day 0 to day 30 in VEGF ($22.9\pm9.9\;mL\;vs.\;32.3\pm9.1\;mL;\; p=0.006$) and in Control ($26.3\pm12.0\;mL\;vs.\;36.8\pm9.7\;mL;\;p=0.046$). EF decreased significantly in VEGF ($52.0\pm7.7\%\;vs.\;46.5\pm7.4\%;\;p=0.004$) and in Control ($48.2\pm9.2\%\;vs.\;41.6\pm10.0\%;\;p=0.028$). There was no significant change in EDV. The interval changes (days $30\~60$) of EF, ESV, and EDV did not differ significantly between groups both by gated SPECT and by echocardiography. Conclusion: Intramyocardial injection of pCK-VEGF165 induced therapeutic angiogenesis and improved myocardial perfusion. However, post-infarction remodeling and global myocardial function were not improved.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
• /
• v.41 no.4
• /
• pp.321-326
• /
• 2014

The aim of this study was to investigate which hydroponic system is the optimum for growth and photosynthetic characteristics of Angelica gigas during experiment. Angelica gigas 'Manchu' were sowed and managed under a growth room chamber. The environmental conditions (temperature $22^{\circ}C/18^{\circ}C$ (day/night), relative humidity 50-70%, photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD) $120{\pm}6{\mu}mol\;m^{-2}s^{-1}$) were maintained for 3 weeks. Forty eight seedlings with 4-5 leaves were transplanted in deep flow technique (DFT), substrate, and spray culture systems [culture bed: 800 (L) ${\times}$ 800 (W) ${\times}$ 400 mm(H)] under $150{\pm}5{\mu}mol\;m^{-2}s^{-1}$ PPFD provided with fluorescence lamps and cultivated for 11 weeks. At the end of the experiment, fresh and dry weights, leaf lenghth and width, SPAD, root fresh, and dry weights, and root volume of Anglica gigas were measured. Photosynthetic rate of Anglica gigas were measured with portable photosynthesis systems to investigate optimum PPFD, $CO_2$ concentration, and air temperature conditions. Fresh and dry weights of Anglica gigas grown in substrate were significantly greater than DFT-treated, but there were not significant with spray treatment. Leaf photosynthesis of Anglica gigas showed the tendency to sharply increase as PPFD was increased from 50 to $200{\mu}mol\;m^{-2}s^{-1}$. Though $CO_2$ saturation point was around $1000-1200{\mu}mol\;mol^{-1}$, increase in air temperature from 16 to $26^{\circ}C$ did not quite affect photosynthesis of Anglica gigas. In conclusion, Anglica gigas may be optimally cultivated with a spray culture system as air temperature, PPFD, and $CO_2$ concentration for environment are controlled at $20{\pm}3^{\circ}C$, $150{\mu}mol\;m^{-2}s^{-1}$, and around $1000{\mu}mol\;mol^{-1}$ for mass production.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
• /
• v.65 no.4
• /
• pp.468-476
• /
• 2020

This study was performed to establish light intensity conditions for producing stem cuttings for aeroponic systems suitable for seed potato production using a closed-type plant production system. Shoot tip cultured plantlets of 'Sumi' and 'Chubaek' potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) were acclimatized, cuttings were collected, and stem cuttings were planted. The seedlings were raised for 40 days at different LED light intensities (60, 120, 180, and 240 μmol·m^-2·s^-1), and were cultivated in an aeroponic system for 80 days. When stem cuttings were raised at 60 μmol·m^-2·s^-1 LED light intensity, the plant height was the longest, at 17.3 cm for 'Sumi' and 16.1 cm for 'Chubaek', and the number of nodes was the highest in both cultivars. The higher light intensities, produced smaller plants with fewer nodes. The leaf areas, SPAD values, and Fv/Fm values differed slightly between cultivars. The fresh weight of stem cuttings, and the production rate of healthy stem cuttings were the highest at 60 μmol·m^-2·s^-1. In the aeroponic system, seedlings raised at 60 μmol·m^-2·s^-1 with LED light intensity showed a difference between the cultivars, but the fresh weight of stems and leaves above the planting plate was the heaviest. In addition, below the planting plate the stem cuttings were longest and the root weight was heaviest at 60 μmol·m^-2·s^-1 LED light intensity. The number of stolons also differed between cultivars, but was greatest for seedlings raised at 60 μmol·m^-2·s^-1 LED light intensity, at 4.2/plant for 'Sumi' and 7.7/plant for 'Chubaek'. At 60 μmol·m^-2·s^-1 LED light intensity, the tuber number and total tuber weight were the best, but the higher the light intensity, the smaller the total tuber number and total tuber weight for both cultivars. In conclusion, when producing potato stem cuttings for aeroponic systems using a closed-type plant production system, the most suitable LED light intensity for raising seedlings was found to be 60 μmol·m^-2·s^-1.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
• /
• v.29 no.1
• /
• pp.43-51
• /
• 2020

For developing a canopy photosynthesis model, an efficient method to measure the photosynthetic rate in a growth chamber is required. The objective of this study was to develop a method for establishing canopy photosynthetic rate curves of romaine lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) with light intensity and CO₂ concentration variables using controlled growth chamber. The plants were grown in plant factory modules, and the canopy photosynthesis rates were measured in sealed growth chambers made of acrylic (1.0 × 0.8 × 0.5 m). First, the canopy photosynthetic rates of the plants were measured, and then the time constants were compared between two application methods: 1) changing light intensity (340, 270, 200, and 130 μmol·m^-2·s^-1) at a fixed CO₂ concentration (1,000 μmol·mol^-1) and 2) changing CO₂ concentration (600, 1,000, 1,400, and 1,800 μmol·mol^-1) at a fixed light intensity (200 μmol·m^-2·s^-1). Second, the canopy photosynthetic rates were measured by changing the light intensity at a CO₂ concentration of 1,000 μmol·mol^-1 and compared with those measured by changing the CO₂ concentration at a light intensity of 200 μmol·m^-2·s^-1. The time constant when changing the CO₂ concentration at the fixed light intensity was 3.2 times longer, and the deviation in photosynthetic rate was larger than when changing the light intensity. The canopy photosynthetic rate was obtained stably with a time lag of one min when changing the light intensity, while a time lag of six min or longer was required when changing the CO₂ concentration. Therefore, changing the light intensity at a fixed CO₂ concentration is more appropriate for short-term measurement of canopy photosynthesis using a growth chamber.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
• /
• v.18 no.1
• /
• pp.15-22
• /
• 2009

Adequate environment conditions with growth stage of potato were decided in a photoautotrophic micropropagation system using models. Total 20 day-period of growth were divided into three growth periods such as 6 (stage 1), 7(stage 2), and 7(stage 3) days. At the 1st stage, no significant differences were observed in the growth of potato plantlets at various photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD) and $CO_2$ conditions. Considering damaged leaves, $80\;mmol{\cdot}m^{-2}{\cdot}s^{-1}$ PPFD and ambient $CO_2$ level were adequate in this stage. At the 2nd stage, significant differences were partly observed in several growth characteristics including dry weight. Based on the dry matter model, over $240\;mol{\cdot}m^{-2}{\cdot}s^{-1}$ PPFD was too high to cultivate potato plantlets at this stage due to the occurrence of damaged leaves. Considering both plant growth and energy efficiency, $160\;mol{\cdot}m^{-2}{\cdot}s^{-1}$ PPFD and $700\;mol{\cdot}mol^{-1}\;CO_2$ were selected for the adequate combination. At the 3rd stage, the biomass accumulation was significantly induced in potato plantlets under higher levels of PPFD and $CO_2$ concentration as suggested by increased fresh and dry weights. However, we could not find the saturated point with regard to dry matter due to continuous increase of dry mater even under maximum PPFD ($320\;mmol{\cdot}m^{-2}{\cdot}s^{-1})$. Thus, $320\;mol{\cdot}m^{-2}{\cdot}s^{-1}$ PPFD and $1800\;mol{\cdot}mol^{-1}\;CO_2$ were considered as the best choice at final stage in this study. In conclusion, even though the growth period of micropropagated potato plantlets was quite a short, favorable environmental conditions required at each growth stage were different. This technique could improve the growth of micropropagated plantlets compared to the conventional micropropagation and apply to other agriculturally important crops as well as potato in the future.

• Progress in Medical Physics
• /
• v.21 no.2
• /
• pp.232-237
• /
• 2010

The shielding materials designed for replacement of lead equivalent materials for lighter apron than that of lead in diagnostic photon beams. The absorption characteristics of elements were applied to investigate the lead free material for design the shielding materials through the 50 kVp to 110 kVp x-ray energy in interval of 20 kVp respectively. The idea focused to the effect of K-edge absorption of variable elements excluding the lead material for weight reduction. The designed shielding materials composited of Tin 34.1%, Antimon 33.8% and Iodine 26.8% and Polyisoprene 5.3% gram weight account for 84 percent of weight of lead equivalent of 0.5 mm thickness. The size of lead-free shielder was $200{\times}200{\times}1.5\;mm^3$ and $3.2\;g/cm^3$ of density which is equivalent to 0.42 mm of Pb. The lead equivalent of 0.5 mm thickness generally used for shielding apron of diagnostic X rays which is transmitted 0.1% for 50 kVp, 0.9% for 70 kVp and 3.2% for 90 kVp and 4.8% for 110 kVp in experimental measurements. The experiment of transmittance for lead-free shielder has showed 0.3% for 50 kVp, 0.6% for 70 kVp, 2.0% for 90 kVp and 4.2% for 110 kVp within ${\pm}0.1%$. respectively. Using the attenuation coefficient of experiments for 0.5 mm Pb equivalent of lead-free materials showed 0.1%. 0.3%, 1.0% and 2.4%, respectively. Furthermore, the transmittance of lead-free shielder for scatter rays has showed the 2.4% in operation energy of 50 kVp and 5.9% in energy of 110 kVp against 2.4% and 5.1% for standard lead thickness within ${\pm}0.2%$ discrepancy, respectively. In this experiment shows the designed lead-free shielder is very effective for reduction the apron weight in diagnostic radiation fields.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
• /
• v.15 no.2
• /
• pp.153-158
• /
• 1997

Purpose : The Dual-Energy Quantitative Computed Tomography(DEQCT) was compared with bone equivalent $K_2HPO_4$ standard solution and ash weight of animal cadaveric trabecular bone in the measurement of bone mineral contents(BMC). Method and Materials : The attenuation coefficient of tissues highly depends on the radiation energy density and effective atomic number of composition, The bone mineral content of DEQCT in this experiments was determined from empirical constants and mass attenuation coefficients of bone,fat and soft tissue equivalent solution in two photon spectra. In this experiments, the BMC of DEQCT with 80 and $120kV_p$ X rays was compared to ash weight of animal trabecular bone. Results : We obtained the mass attenuation coefficient of 0.2409 0.5608 and 0.2206 in $80kV_p$, and 0.2046, 0.3273 and $0.1971cm^2/g$ in $120kV_p$ X-ray spectra for water bone and fat equivalent materials, respectively. The BMC with DEQCT was acomplished with empirical constants $K_1=0.3232,\;K_2$=0.2450 and mass attenuation coefficients has very closed to ash weight of animal trabecular bone The BMC of empirical DEQCT and that of manufacturing DEQCT were correlated with ash weight as a correlation r= 0.998 and r= 0.996, respectively. Conclusion : The BMC of empirical DEQCT using the experimental mass attenuation coefficients and that of manufacture have showed very close to ash weight of animal trabecular bone.

• Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging
• /
• v.42 no.5
• /
• pp.354-361
• /
• 2008

Purpose: N-13 ammonia uptake and retention in the myocardium is related to perfusion and metabolism. There are several potential advantages of N-13 ammonia positron emission tomography (PET) to detect myocardial ischemia, such as higher spatial resolution, greater counting efficiencies, and robust attenuation correction. But there are few reports comparing Tc-99m myocardial perfusion single photon emission tomography (MPS) and N-13 ammonia PET. We thus compared adenosine stress N-13 ammonia PET/CT and Tc-99m sestamibi MPS in patients with suspected coronary artery stenosis. Materials and Methods: Seventeen patients (male 13 : $63{\pm}11$ years old) underwent adenosine stress N-13 ammonia PET/CT (Discovery ST, GE), Tc-99m sestamibi MPS (dual head gamma camera, Hawkeye, GE) and coronary angiography within 1 week. N-13 ammonia PET/CT and Tc-99m sestamibi MPS images were assessed with a 20-segment model by visual interpretation and quantitative analysis using automatic quantitative software (Myovation, GE). Results: Both sensitivities and specificities of detecting an individual coronary artery stenosis were higher for N-13 ammonia PET/CT than Tc-99m sestamibi MPS (PET/CT: 91%/89% vs MPS: 65%/82%). N-13 ammonia PET/CT showed reversibility in 52% of segments that were considered non-reversibile by Tc-99m sestamibi MPS. In the 110 myocardial segments supplied by the stenotic coronary artery, N-13 ammonia PET/CT showed higher count densities than Tc-99m MPS on rest study (p < 0.01), and the difference of count density between the stress and the rest studies was also larger on N-13 ammonia PET/CT. Conclusion: Adenosine stress N-13 ammonia PET/CT had higher diagnostic sensitivity and specificity, more reversibility of perfusion defects and greater stress/rest uptake differences than Tc-99m sestamibi MPS. Accordingly, N-13 ammonia PET/CT might offer better assessment of myocardial ischemia and viability.