• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.56 no.1
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• pp.207-215
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• 2024

This study focuses on measuring the levels of naturally occurring radioactivity in the soil of Swabi, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan, as well as the associated health hazard. Thirty (30) soil samples were collected from various locations and analyzed for ²²⁶Ra, ²³²Th, and ⁴⁰K radioactivity levels using a High Purity Germanium detector (HPGe) gamma-ray spectrometer with a photo-peak efficiency of approximately 52.3%. The average values obtained for these radionuclides are 35.6 ± 5.7 Bqkg^-1, 47 ± 12.5 Bqkg^-1, and 877 ± 153 Bqkg^-1, respectively. The level of ²³²Th is slightly higher and ⁴⁰K is 2.2 times higher than the internationally recommended limit of 30 Bqkg^-1 and 400 Bqkg^-1, respectively. Various parameters were calculated based on the results obtained, including Radium Equivalent (Ra_eq), External Hazard (H_ex), Absorbed Dose Rate (D), Annual Gonadal Equivalent Dose (AGDE), Annual Effective Dose Rate, and Excess Lifetime Cancer Risk (ELCR), which are 170.3 ± 24 Bqkg^-1, 0.46 ± 0.06 Bqkg^-1, 81.4 ± 2.04 nGy h^-1, 582 ± 78.08 µSvy^-1, 99.8 ± 13.5 µSv Gy^-1, and 0.349 ± 0.04, respectively. These values are below the limits recommended by the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR) in 2002. This study highlights the potential radiation threats associated with natural radioactivity levels in the soil of Swabi and provides valuable information for public health and safety.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.81-86
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• 2015

Purpose This study was to evaluate the usefulness through the comparison of patients group and healthy control group by acquiring a variety of functional parameters index from time-activity curves of salivary gland scintigraphy using $^{99m}Tc$. Materials and Methods From December 2014 to February 2015 with the targets of 30 patients in the patient group who presented themselves with xerostomia and underwent the salivary gland scan and 10 people in healthy control group, approximately 30 minutes of dynamic Scan was carried out after the intravenous bolus injection of 370 MBq of $^{99m}TcO_4{^-}$ and per os stimulation with Vitamin C powder 20 minutes after the injection. The method of quantitative analysis was as follows, the time-activity curve was drawn after the parotid gland and submandible gland were prescribed as a region of interest, a variety of functional parameters index was obtained in each position of the curve, and the patients group and the control group were compared. Results As for the methods applied in comparison and measurement, uptake ratio (UR), time at maximum counts (Tmax), time at minimum counts (Tmin), maximum accumulation (MA), accumulation velocity, maximum secretion (MS), maximum stimulation secretion (MSS), and secretion velocity (SV) were used. In the comparison of functional parameters index of patient group and normal group, the healthy normal group showed significant difference compared to the patient group in all indices except for the minimum radioactivity time (Tmin), and also in terms of variation over time the normal group showed significant difference compared to the patient group (p<0.05). Conclusion Consequently, it was considered that the quantitative analysis that used a variety of functional parameters index would be useful for evaluating the function of the salivary glands of the patients with xerostomia as an objective and standardized information.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.15 no.2 s.42
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• pp.213-227
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• 2005

This study aims to assess the problems with investigation method and to suggest the complementary solutions by comparing the predicted data from surface investigation with the outcome data from underground cavern. In the study area, one(NE-1) of 6 fracture zones predicted during the surface investigation was only confirmed in underground caverns. Therefore, it is necessary to improve the confidence level for prediction. In this study, the fracture classification criteria was quantitatively suggested on the basis of the BHTV images of NE-1 fracture zone. The major orientation of background fractures in rock mass was changed at the depth of the storage cavern, the length and intensity were decreased. These characteristics result in the deviation of predieted predicted fracture properties and generate the investigation bias depending on the bore hole directions and investigated scales. The evaluation of hydraulic connectivity in the surface investigation stage needs to be analyze by the groundwater pressures and hydrochemical properties from the monitoring bore hole(s) equipped with a double completion or multi-packer system during the test bore hole is pumping or injecting. The hydraulic conductivities in geometric mean measured in the underground caverns are 2-3 times lower than those from the surface and furthermore the horizontal hydraulic conductivity in geometric mean is six times lower than the vertical one. To improve confidence level of the hydraulic conductivity, the orientation of test hole should be considered during the analysis of the hydraulic conductivity and the methodology of hydro-testing and interpretation should be based on the characteristics of rock mass and investigation purposes.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.199-205
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• 2003

The p53 protein was discovered in 1979 as cellular 53-kD nuclear phosphoprotein bound to the large transforming antigen of SV40 virus. $P21^{WAF1/CIP1}$, which has been described as the critical downstream mediator of p53, is known to suppress DNA replication and arrest the G1 cell cycle by quaternary complex with cyclin D, cyclin-dependent kinase(CDK) and proliferating cell nuclear antigen(PCNA). In these days, some studies shows that the p21 can be induced by independent pathways. There are various reports about the expression of p21 (67%.82.4%) in oral squamous cell carcinoma. But these studies are mostly done in malignant tumor not in benign tumor. So we decided to study the expression of p21 in ameloblastoma and the relationship between p53 and p21 as a downstream mediator of p53 in ameloblastoma. We investigated the expression of p21 and p53 with the method of immunohistochemistry. We selected 30 cases of ameloblastoma tissue blocks (acanthomatous type: 5 cases, follicular type: 8 cases, plexiform type: 17 cases) imbedded in paraffin. We used 30 cases of normal gingival tissues and 30 cases of squamous cell carcinoma tissues (SCC) respectively and compared their results with those of ameloblastoma. We made slides with the streptavidin-biotin methods and used monoclonal antibody DO-7 (Novocastra, Newcastle, United Kingdom) as p53 antibody and monoclonal antibody M7202 (DAKO, California, U.S.A.) as p21 antibody. We used Pearson's correlation coefficient to analyse the relationship. The results were as follows: 1. p21 was expressed in ameloblastoma about 30% and this is lower than that of normal gingiva and SCC. 2. In normal gingiva and ameloblastoma, p21 expression was correlated with p53 expression. 3. In SCC, p21 were expressed about 83.3% and this is more than that of p53. But there was no correlation between p21 and p53 expression. We confirmed p21 expression and relation with p53 in ameloblastoma. But, to confirm the function of p21, more studies about p21 expression in malignant ameloblastoma and ameloblastic carcinoma are needed.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.74-80
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• 2015

Purpose Breast lymphoscintigraphy is an important technique to present for body surface precisely, which shows a lymph node metastasis of malignant tumors at an early stage and is performed before and after surgery in patients with breast cancer. In this study, we evaluated several methods of body outline imaging to present exact location of lesions, as well as compared respective exposure doses. Materials and Methods RANDO phantom and SYMBIA T-16 were used for obtaining imaging. A lesion and an injection site were created by inserting a point source of 0.11 MBq on the axillary sentinel lymph node and 37 MBq on the right breast, respectively. The first method for acquiring the image was used by drawing the body surface of phantom for 30 sec using $Na^{99m}TcO_4$ as a point source. The second, the image was acquired with $^{57}Co$ flood source for 30 seconds on the rear side and the left side of the phantom, the image as the third method was obtained using a syringe filled with 37 MBq of $Na^{99m}TcO_4$ in 10 ml of saline, and as the fourth, we used a photon energy and scatter energy of $^{99m}Tc$ emitting from phantom without any addition radiation exposure. Finally, the image was fused the scout image and the basal image of SPECT/CT using MATLAB$^{(R)}$ program. Anterior and lateral images were acquired for 3 min, and radiation exposure was measured by the personal exposure dosimeter. We conducted preference of 10 images from nuclear medicine doctors by the survey. Results TBR values of anterior and right image in the first to fifth method were 334.9 and 117.2 ($1^{st}$), 266.1 and 124.4 ($2^{nd}$), 117.4 and 99.6 ($3^{rd}$), 3.2 and 7.6 ($4^{th}$), and 565.6 and 141.8 ($5^{th}$). And also exposure doses of these method were 2, 2, 2, 0, and $30{\mu}Sv$, respectively. Among five methods, the fifth method showed the highest TBR value as well as exposure dose, where as the fourth method showed the lowest TBR value and exposure dose. As a result, the last method ($5^{th}$) is the best method and the fourth method is the worst method in this study. Conclusion Scout method of SPECT/CT can be useful that provides the best values of TBR and the best score of survey result. Even though personal exposure dose when patients take scout of SPECT/CT was higher than another scan, it was slight level comparison to 1 mSv as the dose limit to non-radiation workers. If the scout is possible to less than 80 kV, exposure dose can be reduced, and also useful lesion localization provided.

• Proceedings of the KSAR Conference
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• 2001.03a
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• pp.55-55
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• 2001

Erythropoietin(EPO)는 적혈구 세포 증식, 분화 및 생존에 있어서 가장 중요한 요인이다. 또한, 빈혈성저산소증에 있어서도 EPO가 중요한 역할을 한다고 알려져 있다. 태아에서 EPO 생산부위는 간이라고 알려져 있으나, 임신 120-140일에 신장으로 이동하기 시작하여 출생 후 약 40일경 이후에는 완전히 신장에서만 분비한다 EPO단백질의 분비는 오전 8시에 가장 낮고 오후 8시에 가장 높은 2중 리듬의 형태로 발현되어진다. EPO는 27개의 leader sequence와 165개의 아미노산으로 총 193개의 아미노산으로부터 분비된다. EPO단백질의 분자량은 18 kDa이나, 약 40%의 당쇄가 첨가되어있는 당단백질으로서 분자량은 30 kDa이다 N-linked 당쇄 3개(Asn-24, 38 및 83)와 O-linked 당쇄 1개(Ser 126)의 첨가부위가 존재하며, 2개의 disulfide bridges(7-161번, 29-33번)를 형성하고 있다. 이러한 당쇄의 수식은 EPO의 대사에 있어서 매우 중요하다. EPO를 가축의 소변으로부터 생산하기 위하여 생쥐의 3.6 kb UII promoter 하류에 genome hEPO와 SV 40 poly A를 연결하여 형질전환용 발현 벡터를 구축하였으며, 과배란 유기로 채란되어진 돼지의 1-세포기 수정란의 웅성전핵에 유전자를 미세주입기로 주입 후 즉시 대리모에 이식하였다. 66두에 미세주입된 1572개의 수정란을 외과적 방법으로 이식, 평균 23개의 수정란을 이식하였다. 생산된 자돈 112두중 2두(3-5, 3-15번)에서 PCR양성반응(304, 567bp)을 나타내어, 2두의 돼지로부터 소변을 회수하였다. 회수된 소변을 이용 Elisa방법으로 EPO를 분석한 결과 3-5번 돼지에서만 분만 후 지속적으로 EPO농도가 증가되었다. EPO의 최고농도는 1.1 IU/$m\ell$였으며, 이러한 결과는 CHO 세포에서의 500-1000 IU/$m\ell$의 생산량보다도 약 500-1000배정도 낮은 수준이었다. 이상을 종합하여 보면, 1) 가축에서도 생리활성물질을 소변에서 생산할 수 있는 UII promoter의 활용가능성을 제시하였으며, 2) 현재로서는 EPO의 발현량이 너무 낮아, 사용된 생쥐의 promoter를 보완할 필요성이 있다고 사료된다. 그러나, UII promoter를 이용하여 생리활성 물질을 생산할 수 있는 형질전환 돼지 생산의 성공은, 앞으로 형질전환 가축을 이용하는 활용 면에서도 더욱 더 활발할 것으로 기대된다.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.15-23
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• 2010

Purpose : This study was designed to compare the effective doses from low-dose and standard-dose multi-detector CT (MDCT) scanning protocols and evaluate the image quality and the spatial resolution of the low-dose MDCT protocols for clinical use. Materials and Methods : 6-channel MDCT scanner (Siemens Medical System, Forschheim, Germany), was used for this study. Protocol of the standard-dose MDCT for the orthodontic analysis was 130 kV, 35 mAs, 1.25 mm slice width, 0.8 pitch. Those of the low-dose MDCT for orthodontic analysis and orthodontic surgery were 110 kV, 30 mAs, 1.25 mm slice width, 0.85 pitch and 110 kV, 45 mAs, 2.5 mm slice width, 0.85 pitch. Thermoluminescent dosimeters (TLDs) were placed at 31 sites throughout the levels of adult female ART head and neck phantom. Effective doses were calculated according to ICRP 1990 and 2007 recommendations. A formalin-fixed cadaver and AAPM CT performance phantom were scanned for the evaluation of subjective image quality and spatial resolution. Results : Effective doses in ${\mu}Sv$ ($E_{2007}$) were 699.1, 429.4 and 603.1 for standard-dose CT of orthodontic treatment, low-dose CT of orthodontic analysis, and low-dose CT of orthodontic surgery, respectively. The image quality from the low-dose protocol were not worse than those from the standard-dose protocol. The spatial resolutions of both standard-dose and low-dose CT images were acceptable. Conclusion : From the above results, it can be concluded that the low-dose MDCT protocol is preferable in obtaining CT images for orthodontic analysis and orthodontic surgery.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Prosthodontics
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.17-40
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• 1987

The purpose of this study was to clarify the effect of clasp design on abutment tooth adjacent to a distal extension base under the influence by the location of functional loading. The RPI clasp, the Akers clasp and the combination clasp were selected for evaluation. Tests were performed at 10Kg, 20Kg, 30Kg loads on the buccal, central, lingual, mesial and distal positions of loading platform of each mandibular distal extension partial denture. The laser reflexion method was used for three dimensional measurement of abutment movement, which is possible to measure precisely without contact. The movement in the mesiodistal(X), buccolingual(Y), and occlusoapical(Z) directions and the rotational movement(R) were measured, and in addition, the total movement (SV) as expressed by the three dimensional summation vector independent of direction was calculated. The data were analyzed using Student t-test, p<.05. The following results were obtained from this study; 1. Clasp design did not generally affect the direction of abutment tooth movement except the movement in an undesirable occlusal direction in case of the Akers clasp and the combination clasp. 2. The greater the load on the prosthesis, the greater was the abutment tooth movement, and the direction of abutment tooth movement was affected by positional loading. 3. Each prosthesis was dislodged from the test base under the small amount of load in the distal load position, and the buccal loading showed the greatest abutment tooth movement under the maximum load. 4. RPI clasp was evaluated as the most favorable design.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.111-121
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• 2009

Objectives : This study was performed to evaluate the efficacy of ampule containing herbal extract(Ulmus davidiana, Ginkgo biloba, Perilla ocymoides, Morus alba, Glycyrrhiza uralensis (licorice), and Angelica gigas) on skin wrinkles in adult women with facial wrinkles. Methods : A total of 12 women, 30 to 46 years of age, with wrinkles in the corner of eyes, applied ampule containing herbal extract twice daily for up to 12 weeks. Silicon replicas of right crow's feet area and antecubital fossa were taken before use of test product and at 4, 8 and 12 weeks. The replicas were analyzed by optical profilometry with Skin Visiometer SV600. The wrinkle and roughness parameters, R1, R2, R3, R4 and R5 were calculated and statistically analyzed. In addition, a subjective evaluation of product efficacy was conducted by patient's assessment. Results : The mean values of all the skin roughness parameters were decreased at 4-week, and decreased significantly at 8 and 12-week except R4 at 12-week after test product use. The subjective evaluation of wrinkle by patient's assessment was also improved. However, one patient noted stiffness of face after use of test product. Conclusions : These study suggested that the application of ampule containing herbal extract twice daily for 12 weeks may effectively improve the facial wrinkles without severe side effect.

• Journal of Photoscience
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• v.4 no.3
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• pp.97-103
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• 1997

The effect of temperature on the fluorescence quenching of 2-(4-Methoxyphenyl)-5-(1-naphthyl)-1,3,4-oxadiazole (MPNO1), 2-(4-Methoxyphenyl)-5-(2-naphthyl)-1,3,4-oxadiazote(MPNO2), by aniline, and 2-Phenylindole (2-PI) by CCk, in toluene by steady state method and in benzene by time-resolved method have been carried out in the temperature range 30 - 70$\circ$C. The Stem-Volmer (S-V) plots, I$_0$/I against quencher concentration [Q] at different temperanares show positive deviations. The fluorescence lifetimes determined at different temperatures show no systematic variations and the variations being within the experimental error, the average values of lifetimes $ $\tau$ (t) are taken for further calculations. Rate constants such as Stem-Volmer quenching constants K$_sv}$, quenching rate parameters k$_q$ and k'$_q$, static quenching constant V and kinetic distance r are determined using the modified Stem-Volmer equation and sphere of action static quenching model. In order to see whether the reactions are diffusion limited, equations k$_q$ = e$^{-Eq/RT}$ and k'$_q$ = e$^{-Eq/RT}$ are used to determine the values of E$_q$ and E'$_q$, the activation energies for collisional quenching and the values of E$_q$ are 14.53. 17.28 and 16.20 kJ mole$^{-1}$ for MPNO1, MPNO2 and 2-PI respectively and the values of E'$_q$ are 14.62 and 17.73 for MPNO1 and MPNO2 respectively. From the magnitudes of various quantities it has been concluded that the reactions are diffusion limited and the observed positive deviations in the S-V plot are due to static and dynamic quenching.