• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.84-89
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• 2013

Purpose: Patients' movement during long image acquisition time for the fusion image of PET-CT (Positron Emission Tomography-Computed Tomography) results in unconformity, and greatly affects the quality of the image and diagnosis. The arm support fixtures provided by medical device companies are not manufactured considering the convenience and safety of the patients; the arm and head movements (horizontal and vertical) during PET/CT scan cause defects in the brain fundus images and often require retaking. Therefore, this study aims to develop patient-compensation device that would minimize the head and arm movements during PET/CT scan, providing comfort and safety, and to reduce retaking. Materials and Methods: From June to July 2012, 20 patients who had no movement-related problems and another 20 patients who had difficulties in raising arms due to shoulder pain were recruited among the ones who visited nuclear medicine department for PET Torso scan. By using Patient Holding System (PHS), different range of motion (ROM) in the arm ($25^{\circ}$, $27^{\circ}$, $29^{\circ}$, $31^{\circ}$, $33^{\circ}$, $35^{\circ}$) was applied to find the most comfortable angle and posture. The manufacturing company was investigated for the permeability of the support material, and the comfort level of applying bands (velcro type) to fix the patient's head and arms was evaluated. To find out the retake frequency due to movements, the amount of retake cases pre/post patient-compensation were analyzed using the PET Torso scan data collected between January to December 2012. Results: Among the patients without movement disorder, 18 answered that PHS and $29^{\circ}$ arm ROM were the most comfortable, and 2 answered $27^{\circ}$ and $31^{\circ}$, respectively. Among the patients with shoulder pain, 15 picked $31^{\circ}$ as the most comfortable angle, 2 picked $33^{\circ}$, and 3 picked $35^{\circ}$. For this study, the handle was manufactured to be adjustable for vertical movements. The material permeability of the patient-compensation device has been verified, and PHS and the compensation device were band-fixed (velcro type) to prevent device movements. A furrow was cut for head fixation to minimize the head and neck movements, fixing bands were attached for the head, wrist, forearm, and upper arm to limit movements. The retake frequency of PET Torso scan due to patient movements was 11.06% (191 cases/1,808 patients) before using the movement control device, and 2.65% (48 cases/1,732 patients) after using the device; 8.41% of the frequency was reduced. Conclusion: Recent change and innovation in the medical environment are making expensive medical image scans, and providing differentiated services for the customers is essential. To secure patient comfort and safety during PET/CT scans, ergonomic patient-compensation devices need to be provided. Therefore, this study manufactured a patientcompensation device with vertically adjustable ergonomic ROM according to the patient's body shape and condition during PET Torso scan. The defects in the basal ganglia images due to arm movements were reduced, and retaking was decreased.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.32-36
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• 2016

Purpose In nuclear medicine examination, $^{131}I$ is widely used in nuclear medicine examination such as diagnosis, treatment, and others of thyroid cancer and other diseases. $^{131}I$ conducts examination and treatment through emission of ${\gamma}$ ray and ${\beta}^-$ ray. Since $^{131}I$ (364 keV) contains more energy compared to $^{99m}Tc$ (140 keV) although it displays high integrated rate and enables quick discharge through kidney, the objective of this study lies in comparing the difference in exposure dose of $^{131}I$ before and after wearing apron when handling $^{131}I$ with focus on 3 elements of external exposure protection that are distance, time, and shield in order to reduce the exposure to technicians in comparison with $^{99m}Tc$ during the handling and administration process. When wearing apron (in general, Pb 0.5 mm), $^{99m}Tc$ presents shield of over 90% but shielding effect of $^{131}I$ is relatively low as it is of high energy and there may be even more exposure due to influence of scattered ray (secondary) and bremsstrahlung in case of high dose. However, there is no special report or guideline for low dose (74 MBq) high energy thus quantitative analysis on exposure dose of technicians will be conducted based on apron wearing during the handling of $^{131}I$. Materials and Methods With patients who visited Department of Nuclear Medicine of our hospital for low dose $^{131}I$ administration for thyroid cancer and diagnosis for 7 months from Jun 2014 to Dec 2014 as its subject, total 6 pieces of TLD was attached to interior and exterior of apron placed on thyroid, chest, and testicle from preparation to administration. Then, radiation exposure dose from $^{131}I$ examination to administration was measured. Total procedure time was set as within 5 min per person including 3 min of explanation, 1 min of distribution, and 1 min of administration. In regards to TLD location selection, chest at which exposure dose is generally measured and thyroid and testicle with high sensitivity were selected. For preparation, 74 MBq of $^{131}I$ shall be distributed with the use of $2m{\ell}$ syringe and then it shall be distributed after making it into dose of $2m{\ell}$ though dilution with normal saline. When distributing $^{131}I$ and administering it to the patient, $100m{\ell}$ of water shall be put into a cup, distributed $^{131}I$ shall be diluted, and then oral administration to patients shall be conducted with the distance of 1m from the patient. The process of withdrawing $2m{\ell}$ syringe and cup used for oral administration was conducted while wearing apron and TLD. Apron and TLD were stored at storage room without influence of radiation exposure and the exposure dose was measured with request to Seoul Radiology Services. Results With the result of monthly accumulated exposure dose of TLD worn inside and outside of apron placed on thyroid, chest, and testicle during low dose $^{131}I$ examination during the research period divided by number of people, statistics processing was conducted with Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test using SPSS Version. 12.0K. As a result, it was revealed that there was no significant difference since all of thyroid (p = 0.345), chest (p = 0.686), and testicle (p = 0.715) were presented to be p > 0.05. Also, when converting the change in total exposure dose during research period into percentage, it was revealed to be -23.5%, -8.3%, and 19.0% for thyroid, chest, and testicle respectively. Conclusion As a result of conducting Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test, it was revealed that there is no statistically significant difference (p > 0.05). Also, in case of calculating shielding rate with accumulate exposure dose during 7 months, it was revealed that there is irregular change in exposure dose for inside and outside of apron. Although the degree of change seems to be high when it is expressed in percentage, it cannot be considered a big change since the unit of accumulated exposure dose is in decimal points. Therefore, regardless of wearing apron during high energy low dose $^{131}I$ administration, placing certain distance and terminating the administration as soon as possible would be of great assistance in reducing the exposure dose. Although this study restricted $^{131}I$ administration time to be within 5 min per person and distance for oral administration to be 1m, there was a shortcoming to acquire accurate result as there was insufficient number of N for statistics and it could be processed only through non-parametric method. Also, exposure dose per person during lose dose $^{131}I$ administration was measured with accumulated exposure dose using TLD rather than through direct-reading exposure dose thus more accurate result could be acquired when measurement is conducted using electronic dosimeter and pocket dosimeter.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.38 no.5 s.250
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• pp.323-334
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• 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 Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.42 no.6
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• pp.460-466
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• 2009

Carbon fixation and density of crops are important to estimate carbon uptake or emission by agricultural production activities and to establish life cycle inventory of crops for assessment of climate change impact. In this study, regional carbon fixation and density in each part of 14 crops, harvest index, and ratio of aboveground to underground were investigated to estimate biomass of 14 crops in Korea by using agricultural statistics data. Biomass yield of potato was $16.5ton\;ha^{-1}$, which was the highest, and those of rice, sweet potato, and garlic were $10.5ton\;ha^{-1}$, $8.7ton\;ha^{-1}$, and $7.5ton\;ha^{-1}$ respectively. Biomass yield of Green onion was the lowest as $2.8ton\;ha^{-1}$. Carbon density of 14 crops were in the order of potato ($6.4ton\;ha^{-1}$), rice ($4.2ton\;ha^{-1}$), sweet potato ($3.4ton\;ha^{-1}$), rape ($2.9ton\;ha^{-1}$) and garlic ($2.8ton\;ha^{-1}$). Regional distribution of carbon contents for each crop mapped revealed that carbon fixation of rice, soybean, sesame, garlic, and green onion were the highest in Jeonnam province, barley, red pepper, and watermelon in Gyeongnam, perilla in Chungnam, peanut in Gyeongbuk, rape and carrot in Jeju, sweet potato in Gyeonggi, potato in Gangwon. The results can be applied for assessing life cycle inventory of crops and crop productivity using remotely sensed data.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.459-465
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• 2012

This study was conducted to obtain investigated characteristic factors which has an influence on nitrous oxide ($N_2O$) emissions related to the environment change of nitrogen application level, rainfall and temperature. It was done by the carrot cultivation at black volcanic ashes soil in the experimental field of Jeju Special Self-governing Province Agricultural Research and Extension Services from 2010 to 2011. During the carrot cultivation period, the more amount of nitrogen fertilizer applied, the more amount of $N_2O$ emissions were released. Generally $N_2O$ emissions were so deeply released to climate as that in the first and middle of cultivation with heavy rainfall released amount is high, otherwise it was released very low at the end of cultivation and drought season. $N_2O$ emissions type was considered to relate with the rainfall pattern and soil water content. We obtained the result correlated with $N_2O$ emissions, in 2010, as the soil water and soil temperature were significant to $0.5718^{**}$ ($r$) and $0.4908^{**}$ ($r$) respectively, but soil EC was not significant to 0.2704 ($r$). In 2011, soil water was significant to $0.3394^*$ ($r$), but soil temperature and soil EC were not significant to 0.2138 ($r$) and 0.2462 ($r$) respectively. Also, $NO_3$-N and soil nitrogen ($NO_3-N+NH_4-N$) were not significant to 0.0575 ($r$) and 0.0787 ($r$) respectively. During the carrot cultivation period, the average emissions factor released by the nitrogen fertilizer application for 2 years was presumed to be 0.0025 $N_2O$-N kg / N kg. This factor was 4 times than the IPCC (0.0100 $N_2O$-N kg / N kg) factor.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.451-458
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• 2012

This study was conducted to investigate the characteristic factors which have been influenced on nitrous oxide ($N_2O$) emissions related to the environment change of nitrogen application level, rainfall and temperature during the soybean cultivation at black volcanic ash soil from 2010 to 2011. During the soybean cultivation, the more amount of nitrogen fertilizer applied, $N_2O$ emissions amounts were released much. $N_2O$ emissions with the cultivation time were released much at the first and middle of cultivation with heavy rainfall, but it was released very low until the end of cultivation and drought season. $N_2O$ emissions mainly were influenced by the rainfall and soil water content. The correlation ($r$) with $N_2O$ emissions, soil water, soil temperature and soil EC in 2010 were very significant at $0.4591^{**}$, $0.6312^{**}$ and $0.3691^{**}$ respectively. In 2011, soil water was very significant at $0.4821^{**}$, but soil temperature and soil EC were not significant at 0.1646 and 0.1543 respectively. Also, $NO_3$-N and soil nitrogen ($NO_3-N+NO_4-N$) were very significant at $0.6902^{**}$ and $0.6277^*$ respectively, but $NO_4$-N was not significant at 0.1775. During the soybean cultivation, the average emissions factor of 2 years released by the nitrogen fertilizer application was presumed to be 0.0202 ($N_2O$-N kg $N^{-1}\;kg^{-1}$). This factor was higher about 2.8 and 2 times than the Japan's (0.0073 $N_2O$-N kg $N^{-1}\;kg^{-1}$) value and 2006 IPCC guideline default value (0.0100 $N_2O$-N kg $N^{-1}\;kg^{-1}$) respectively.

• Clean Technology
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.316-323
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• 2019

In order to enhance combustion efficiency and reduce atmosphere pollutants, it is essential to measure carbon monoxide (CO) concentration precisely in combustion exhaust. CO is the important gas species regarding pollutant emission and incomplete combustion because it can trade off with NOx and increase rapidly when incomplete combustion occurs. In the case of a steel annealing system, CO is generated intentionally to maintain the deoxidation atmosphere. However, it is difficult to measure the CO concentration in a combustion environment in real-time, because of unsteady combustion reactions and harsh environment. Tunable Diode Laser Absorption Spectroscopy (TDLAS), which is an optical measurement method, is highly attractive for measuring the concentration of certain gas species, temperature, velocity, and pressure in a combustion environment. TDLAS has several advantages such as sensitive, non-invasive, and fast response, and in-situ measurement capability. In this study, a combustion system is designed to control the equivalence ratio. Also, the combustion exhaust gases are produced in a Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG)/air flame. Measurement of CO concentration according to the change of equivalence ratio is confirmed through TDLAS method and compared with the simulation based on Voigt function. In order to measure the CO concentration without interference from other combustion products, a near-infrared laser at 4300.6 cm^-1 was selected.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.298-305
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• 2014

BACKGROUND: The utilization of green manures as alternatives to reduce the use of chemical fertilizers is considered a good agricultural practice. Effect of incorporation of green manure to soil on change of inorganic nitrogen (N) is well literatured. However, there have been few studies on examining entire dynamic of N including inorganic N and N gases in soil incorporated with green manure. The objective of this study was to examine the changes of inorganic N and N gases with single and mixture applications of hairy vetch and barley in the soil. METHODS AND RESULTS: Hairy vetch(H) and barley (B) were applied at the mixture ratio of B:H=0:0, B:H=100:0, B:H=0:100, and B:H=50:50 in soil. The soil-green manure mixtures were incubated in the dark at $25^{\circ}C$ for 17 weeks under aerobic conditions. Cumulative emission of $NH_3$ and $N_2O$ from soils amended with mixture of barley and hairy vetch(B:H=50:50) were less than those from amended with mono hairy vetch(B:H=0:100). Incorporation of single hairy vetch or mixture of barley and hair vetch application could significantly increased concentration of plant available N ($NH_4{^+}$) in early stage of plant growth and plant available N ($NO_3{^-}$) in later stage. However, high concentration of $NO_3{^-}$ in soil could cause adverse environmental impact through $NO_3{^-}$ leaching from soil. CONCLUSION: Conclusively, it might be a good soil management practice to incorporate mixture of barely and hairy vetch in the view point of increase in plant available N concentration and decrease in N losses through volatilization, denitrification, and leaching.

• Horticultural Science & Technology
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.389-406
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• 2011

As part of a feasibility study for introducing carbon labeling of fruit products in Korea, we explore the use of carbon footprints for Korean kiwifruit from Gyeongnam region as a case study. In Korea, the Korean Environmental Industry and Technology Institute (KEITI) is responsible for the carbon footprint labeling certification, and has two types of certification programs: one program focuses on climate change response (carbon footprint labeling analysis) and the other on low-carbon products (reduction of carbon footprints analysis). Currently agricultural products have not yet been included in the program. Carbon labeling could soon be a prerequisite for the international trading of agricultural products. In general the carbon footprints of various agricultural products from New Zealand followed the methodology described in the ISO standards and conformed to the PAS 2050. The carbon footprint assessment focuses on a supply chain, and considers the foreground and the background systems. The basic scheme consists of four phases, which are the 'goal', 'scope', 'inventory analysis', and 'interpretation' phases. In the case of the carbon footprint of New Zealand kiwifruit the study tried to understand each phase's contribution to total GHG emissions. According to the results, shipping, orchard, and coolstore operation are the main life cycle stages that contribute to the carbon footprint of the kiwifruit supply chain stretching from the orchard in New Zealand to the consumer in the UK. The carbon emission of long-distance transportation such as shipping can be a hot-spot of GHG emissions, but can be balanced out by minimizing the carbon footprint of other life cycle phases. For this reason it is important that orchard and coolstore operations reduce the GHG-intensive inputs such as fuel or electricity to minimize GHG emissions and consequently facilitate the industry to compete in international markets. The carbon footprint labeling guided by international standards should be introduced for fruit products in Korea as soon as possible. The already established LCA methodology of NZ kiwifruit can be applied for fruit products as a case study.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.544-550
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• 2012

This study was conducted to investigate the characteristic factors which have been influenced on nitrous oxide ($N_2O$) emissions related to the environment change of nitrogen application level, rainfall and temperature during the potato cultivation at black volcanic ash soil from 2010 to 2011. During the potato cultivation, the more amount of nitrogen fertilizer applied, $N_2O$ emissions amounts were released much. $N_2O$ emissions with the cultivation time were released much at the first and middle of cultivation with heavy rainfall, but it was released very low until the end of cultivation and drought season. $N_2O$ emissions mainly were influenced by the rainfall and soil water content. The correlation (r) with $N_2O$ emissions, soil wate, soil temperature in 2010 were very significant at $0.6251^{**}$ and $0.6082^{**}$ respectively, but soil EC was not significant to 0.10824. In 2011, soil temperature was very significant at $0.4879^{**}$, but soil water and soil EC were not significant at 0.0468 and 0.0400 respectively. Also, $NH_4$-N was very significant at $0.7476^{**}$, but $NO_3$-N and soil nitrogen ($NO_3-N+NH_4-N$) were not significant at 0.0843 and 0.1797, respectively. During the potato cultivation period, the average emissions factor of 2 years released by the nitrogen fertilizer application was presumed to be 0.0040 ($N_2O-N\;kg\;N^{-1}\;kg^{-1}$). This factor was lower about 2.5 times than the IPCC guideline default value (0.0100 $N_2O-N\;kg\;N^{-1}\;kg^{-1}$).