• Natural Product Sciences
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• 제22권4호
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• pp.263-269
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• 2016

Rhynchophylline (RP) is a major tetracyclic oxindole alkaloid of Uncariae Ramulus et Uncus which has been used to treat hypertension, seizures, pain and anxiety in the oriental countries. A recent report revealed that RP attenuated ischemia-induced neuronal damage and kainite-induced convulsions in animals. This study was performed to investigate whether RP enhances pentobarbital-induced sleep behaviors and modulates sleep architecture in mice. Locomotor activity was significantly inhibited by RP at 0.25 and 0.5 mg/kg, similar to 2 mg/kg diazepam (a benzodiazepine agonist) in mice. RP shortened sleep latency and increased total sleep time in a dose-dependent manner when administrated with pentobarbital (42 mg/kg, i.p.). RP also increased the number of sleeping mice and total sleep time by concomitant administration with the sub-hypnotic dosage of pentobarbital (28 mg/kg, i.p.). On the other hand, RP (0.25 mg/kg, p.o.) itself significantly inhibited sleep-wake cycles, prolonged total sleep time, and rapid eye movement in rats. In addition, RP also increased chloride influx in the primary cultured hypothalamic neuronal cells. In addition, we found that glutamic acid decarboxylase ($GAD_{65/67}$) was activated by RP. In conclusion, RP augments pentobarbital-induced sleeping behaviors, and can be a candidate for treating insomnia.

• Sleep Medicine and Psychophysiology
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• 제11권1호
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• pp.10-16
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• 2004

Sleep is associated with definite changes in respiratory function in normal human beings. During sleep, there is loss of voluntary control of breathing and a decrease in the usual ventilatory response to both low oxygen and high carbon dioxide levels. Especially, rapid eye movement (REM) sleep is a distinct neurophysiological state associated with significant changes in breathing pattern and ventilatory control as compared with both wakefulness and non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep. REM sleep is characterized by erratic, shallow breathing with irregularities both in amplitude and frequency owing to marked reduction in intercostal and upper airway muscle activity. These blunted ventilatory responses during sleep are clinically important. They permit marked hypoxemia that occurs during REM sleep in patients with lung or chest wall disease. In addition, sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) is more frequent and longer and hypoventilation is more pronounced during REM sleep. Although apneic episodes are most frequent and severe during REM sleep, most adults spend less than 20 to 25% of total sleep time in REM sleep. It is, therefore, possible for patients to have frequent apneas and hypopneas during REM sleep and still have a normal apnea-hypopnea index if the event-rich REM periods are diluted by event-poor periods of NREM sleep. In this review, we address respiratory physiology according to sleep stage, and the clinical implications of SDB and hypoventilation aggravated during REM sleep.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• 제27권6호
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• pp.1833-1842
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• 2018

The aim of this study was to identify sleep-promoting substance from Polygonatum sibiricum rhizome extract (PSE) with the regulation of sleep architecture. PSE showed a decrease in sleep latency time and an increase in the sleeping time. In the electroencephalography analysis of rats, PSE (150 mg/kg) showed an increase of non-rapid eye movement by 38% and a decrease of rapid eye movement by 31% compared to the control. This sleep-promoting activity was found to be involved in the $GABA_A$-BDZ receptor. The chemical structure of the pure compound was determined by the $^1H$ and $^{13}C$ nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and gas chromatography mass spectrometry analysis; active compound was glyceryl-1-monolinoleate. The commercial standard glyceryl-1-monolinoleate showed a similar inhibitory concentration on [$^3H$]-flumazenil binding to $GABA_A$-BDZ receptors with final active fraction of PSE. The results indicate that glyceryl-1-monolinoleate is a major active compound responsible for the PSE-derived sleep promotion.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology
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• 제16권1호
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• pp.31-40
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• 1982

The present experiment was carried out to elucidate interrelation between the vestibular canals and the extraocular oblique muscles. In urethane anesthetized rabbits, excitatory or inhibitory effect of the canal was produced by three different methods; selective electrical stimulation of the ampullary nerve, bidirectional (ampullofugal or ampullopetal) lymphatic fluid flow, and rapid freezing of the canal. Changes of isometric tension as well as electro-myographic activity of the oblique muscles were recorded in the ipsilateral and contralateral eyes, by means of a polygraphic recorder, and the following results were obtained. 1) Electrical stimulation of a unilateral vertical or horizontal nerve caused contraction of superior oblique muscle and relaxation of inferior oblique muscle in the ipsilateral eye, and contraction of inferior oblique muscle and relaxation of superior oblique muscle in the contralateral eye. 2) Ampullofugal flow in a vertical canal and ampullopetal flow in a horizontal canal caused the oblique muscle responses which were identical to those responses produced by the electrical stimulation of the same canal nerve. 3) Rapid freezing of a vertical canal elicited the oblique muscle responses which were opposite to those caused by electrical stimulation of the same canal nerve. From the above experimental results, functional interrelation between the individual vestibular canal and bilateral extraocular oblique muscles were better elucidated. When these results were compared to those reported by previous investigators (Utzumi, Suzuki et al.), some important discrepancies were found between them. We ascribed such discrepancies to experimental errors of the previous investigators, since their results reflected theoretical contradictions in terms of vestibular eye movements.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제49권2호
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• pp.153-159
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• 2011

A total of 286 individuals from 3 selected communities (Areedi-Aje, Ipakodo/Ojokodo, and Ijebu-Igbo) of Ijebu-North, southwestern Nigeria were examined for Loa loa microfilaremia using finger prick blood smear, between December 2008 and March 2009. Rapid assessment procedure for loiasis (RAPLOA) was used to obtain information, from 187 Ijebu-Igbo residents, on adverse reactions experienced from retrospective treatments with ivermectin and history of eye worm. Only 33.9% of the respondents reported having had a history of eye worm while 33.2% had microfilaremia. The demographic factor of gender was not significant determinants of the prevalence (p>0.05) while age was significant (P<0.05). The highest prevalence of eye worm history and microfilaremia were recorded in 61-70 and 15-20 years of age categories, respectively. Ijebu-Igbo had 27.3% eye worm history, 32.1% microfilaremia, and the highest intensity of 140 microfilariae (mf)/ml. Ipakodo area had the highest eye worm history of 54.4% and the highest intensity of 420 mf/ml. Areedi-Aje had the highest occurrence of 45.2% microfilaremia and the highest intensity of 460 mf/ml. Predictably, Areedi-Aje and Ipakodo areas were high risk communities. The low intensity of L. loa infection with an insignificant (2.1%; P>0.05) adverse reactions from 187 subjects involved in the retrospective ivermectin administration confirmed that ivermectin delivery may be considered safe. The community-directed treatment with ivermectin (CDTI) programme was most probably responsible for the low prevalence and intensity.

• Journal of the Architectural Institute of Korea Structure & Construction
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• 제35권2호
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• pp.3-11
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• 2019

The recent earthquake of Pohang (M5.4) and the Gyeongju earthquake (M5.8) suggested the possibility of a strong earthquake in Korea and reminded us that the Korea is no longer an earthquake-safe zone. In the disaster recovery stage in a disaster like an earthquake, the investigation of the damage situation and the safety assessment of the building serve to provide important information for the initial action such as establishment of the recovery strategy and rescue of the survivor. However, the research that depends on manpower can not cope with the difficulty of processing a large number of doses in a short time, and the expertise of the manpower must be taken into consideration, which may result in delayed initial action. In this study, we propose an rapid safety evaluation technique of building using unmanned aerial vehicle which evaluates the performance and safety of buildings by integrating conventional safety inspection method with unmanned aerial vehicle technology and developed evaluation method of each evaluation factor. In order to verify this, the buildings damaged by the earthquake in Pohang were checked and compared using this system. The results are consistent with the results of the existing emergency earthquake risk assessment. As a result, the possibility of checking the emergency safety using the unmanned aerial vehicle for the damaged structures in case of a large-scale disaster such as an earthquake was confirmed.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• 제51권2호
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• pp.113-116
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• 2012

Aneurysmal bone cyst (ABC) is benign vascular lesion destructing the cortical bone by the expansion of the vascular channel in the diploic space that usually involve long bone and spine. Orbital ABC is rare and the clinical symptoms deteriorate rapidly after initial slow-progression period for a few months. A 12-year-old female patient visited ophthalmologist due to proptosis and upward gaze limitation of the right eye, and orbital mass was noted in the upper part of right eye on orbital MRI. Five months later, exophthalmos was worsened rapidly with other features of ophthalmoplegia. Orbital mass was enlarged on MRI with intracranial extension. Surgery was done through frontal craniotomy and intracranial portion of the tumor was removed. Destructed orbital roof and mass in the orbit was also removed, and surrounding bone which was suspected to have lesion was resected as much as possible. Histopathological diagnosis was aneurysmal bone cyst. Postoperative course was satisfactory and the patient's eye symptoms improved. Authors report a rare case of orbital ABC with review of the literature. Exact diagnosis by imaging studies is important and it is recommended to perform surgical resection before rapid-progressing period and to resect the mass completely to prevent recurrence.

• Journal of Korean Ophthalmic Optics Society
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• 제15권2호
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• pp.161-167
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• 2010

Purpose: The aim of this study was to help the rapid and effective eye-tests of old patients by developing an optometric questionnaire for the elderly suitable for optical shops in Korea. Methods: We surveyed several previous studies about the age-related changes of the eye, and deduced 10 items which were appropriate for optometric eye-tests. Excluding the items that could be easily found in a routine eye-test and that was just physiological changes, we principally chose anomaly items which could be catched by simple oral questions. The questionnaire was mainly composed of clinically important items that were frequently observed. Results: To diagnose optometric symptoms related to eye-aging, we listed 15 questions on the questionnaire for the elderly. Each of the 15 questions was respectively about the decline in the amplitude of accommodation (no.1), anisometropia (no.2), xerophthalmia (no.3), muscae volitantes (no.4-5), dark adaptation (no.6) light and dark adaptation (no.7), contrast sensitivity (no.8), contrast sensitivity and anisometropia (no.9), contrast sensitivity and colour vision (no.10), the field of view (no.11), stereoscopic vision (no.12), colour vision (no.13), cataract (no.14), and presbyopia (no.15). Each question was easy to understand and related to the generally observed symptoms. Conclusions: Our optometric questionnaire for the elderly, which was developed by the procedure mentioned above, was expected to be a help for examining the aging eye and offer the basis of eye-tests of older patients in Korean optical shops.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Geographic Information Studies
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• 제17권3호
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• pp.54-67
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• 2014

This study was performed to estimate Greenhouse gases(GHGs) emissions from biomass burning at large forest fire(Ulju, Pohang and Bonghwa) in 2013. The extended methodology to estimate GHGs adopted the IPCC(Intergovermental Panel on Climate Change) Guidelines(2006) equation. For classifying fire damaged area and analyzing burn severity of total three large-fire area damaged, this study used post-fire imagery from Rapideye imagery to compute the Maximum Likelihood Classifiction (MLC). The result of accuracy assessment on burn severity from imagery showed that average overall accuracy was 75.93% and Kapp coefficient was 0.67 Finally, GHGs emissions from biomass burning in the three large-fire area 2013 were estimated as follows: Ulju $CO_2$ 63,260, CO 5.207, $CH_4$ 360, $N_2O$ 28.0 and $NO_x$ $4.4g/kg^{-1}{\cdot}ha^{-1}$, Pohang $CO_2$ 28,675, CO 2.359, $CH_4$ 163, $N_2O$ 12.7 and $NO_x$ $1.9g/kg^{-1}{\cdot}ha^{-1}$ and Bonghwa $CO_2$ 53,086, CO 1,655, $CH_4$ 114, $N_2O$ 23.5 and $NO_x$ $3.6g/kg^{-1}{\cdot}ha^{-1}$.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Surveying, Geodesy, Photogrammetry and Cartography
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• 제32권5호
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• pp.443-450
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• 2014

To fulfill the recent increasement in the public and private demands for various spatial data, the central and local governments started to produce those data. The low-level land cover map has been produced since 2000, yet the production of high-level land covered map has started later in 2010, and recently, a few regions was completed recently. Although many studies have been carried to improve the quality of land that covered in the map, most of them have been focused on the low-level and mid-level classifications. For that reason, the study for high-level classification is still insufficient. Therefore, in this study, we suggested the automatic extraction of land readjustment for paddy land that updated in the mid-level land mapping. At the study, the RapidEye satellite images, which consider efficient to apply in the agricultural field, were used, and the high pass filtering emphasized the outline of paddy field. Also, the binary images of the paddy outlines were generated from the Otsu thresholding. The boundary information of paddy field was extracted from the image-to-map registrations and masking of paddy land cover. Lastly, the snapped edges were linked, as well as the linear features of paddy outlines were extracted by the regional Hough line extraction. The start and end points that were close to each other were linked to complete the paddy field outlines. In fact, the boundary of readjusted paddy fields was able to be extracted efficiently. We could conclude in that this study contributed to the automatic production of a high-level land cover map for paddy fields.