• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.137-142
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• 2005

Purpose: To evaluate the safety, efficacy and technical problems of the endoscopic balloon dilatation of esophageal anomalies in children. Methods: The medical records of 8 children treated by endoscopic balloon dilatation for esophageal anomalies over a 10-year period at Pusan National University Hospital were reviewed retrospectively. The balloon catheter (Maxforce TTS or CRE, Boston Scientific Co., USA) was positioned across the area of narrowing by direct visualization. The balloon was slowly inflated with normal saline to specified pressures for each balloon and maintained for 60 seconds and then deflated. After 60 seconds pause, the procedure was repeated with a larger sized balloon (increments of 1 mm for each subsequent dilation) till effective dilatation was confirmed by direct visualization without complications. Results: Three male and five female were included and their mean age was 4.2 years. A total of 27 (average of 3.2 per patient) dilatation were performed. Underlying diseases of patients are postoperative stricture of esophageal atresia in 3 cases, esophageal ring in 2 cases, achalasia, corrosive esophagitis and hypertensive LES in one case respectively. The size of initial dilating balloon was chosen on the basis of the diameter of the narrowing determined by endoscopy. The first dilation in patients with severe esophageal stricture was made with a 6 mm sized balloon. Complications observed were esophageal perforation and respiratory holding during the procedure in one case respectively. Successful outcome was seen in 6 patients (75%). Conclusion: Endoscopic balloon dilatation can provide a safe and effective mean of treating esophageal anomalies in children and should be considered the treatment of choice in the initial management of those cases.

• The Korean Journal of Applied Statistics
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.581-594
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• 2013

A group sequential design can end a clinical trial early if a confirmed efficacy or a futility of study medication is found during clinical trials. Adaptation can adjust the design of clinical trials based on accumulated data. The key to this methodology is considered to control the overall type 1 error rate while maintaining the integrity of clinical trials. The estimation would be more complex and the sample size calculation will be more difficult if the clinical trials have repeated measurement data. Lee et al. (2002) suggested a repeated observation case by using the independent increments properties of the interim test statistics and investigated the properties of the proposed confidence interval based on the stage-wise ordering. This study extend Lee et al. (2002) to adaptive group sequential design. We suggest test statistics for the adaptation as redesigning the second stage of clinical trials and induce the stage-wise confidence interval of parameter of interests. The simulation will help to confirm the suggested method.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.57 no.6
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• pp.567-572
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• 2004

Background : The effect of PEEP(ed note: Define PEEP.) on the lung volume in patients with auto-PEEP during mechanical ventilation is not even. In patients with an expiratory limitation such as COPD, a PEEP of 85% from an auto-PEEP can be used with minimal increase in the lung volume. However, the application of PEEP to patients without an expiratory flow limitation can result in progressive lung. This study was carried out to evaluate the different PEEP effects on the lung volume according to the different pulmonary diseases. Methods : Sixteen patients who presented with auto-PEEP during mechanical ventilation were enrolled in this study. These patients were divided into 3 groups: asthma, COPD and tuberculosis sequela (patients with severe cicatrical fibrosis as a result of previous tuberculosis and compensatory emphysema). A PEEP of 25, 50, 75 and 100% of the auto-PEEP was applied, and the lung volume increments were estimated using the trapped lung volume. Results : In the asthma group, the trapped lung volume was not increased at a PEEP of 25 and 50% of the auto-PEEP. This group showed a significant lung volume increment from a 75% PEEP. In the COPD group, the lung volume was increased only at 100% PEEP. In the tuberculosis sequela group, the lung volume was increased progressively from low PEEP levels. However, a significant increment of the lung volume was noted only at 100% PEEP. Conclusion : The effects of the applied PEEP on the lung volume were different depending on the underlying lung pathology. The level of the applied PEEP >50% of the auto-PEEP might increase the trapped lung volume in patients with asthma.

• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.6-18
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• 2001

Larvae of the gunnel Pholis fangi were collected in coastal waters off Daecheon with a bag net from March to June, 1988, and with a ring larva net in February 1989. Maturity and spawning period were analyzed by examination of the gonads of adult fish collected with a bag net from May 1998 through November 1999. In February, the larvae were widely distributed in the outer and inner Cheonsu Bay. From March to April the larvae were present mainly the inner bay; they were absent there in May and found mainly in the outer bay. After June, few gunnel larvae were collected in the study area. This suggests a seaward movement of gunnel from the nursery grounds of the bay to offshore feeding grounds. The otolith of larvae smaller than 10 mm in total length did not show a distinct growth stop. The growth stop is believed to be formed in the early larval stage when the total length is about 10 mm. This period coincides with the time of shoreward migration, suggesting a metabolic change during this period. At a total length of 30 to 40 mm, the shape of the otolith changes from spherical to elongate. Daily growth rate in length was estimated by the Gompertz equation, which is represented as follows: TL = 6.702exp{2.925"1-exp (-0.008 t)"} ($r^2=0.94$, N = 92) Assuming daily deposition of growth increments in the otolith, the time of first growth increment formation was shown to be from December to January. Gonad observations show that Pholis fangi spawns from November to December. So, the hatching time is thought to be about one month.

• Particle and aerosol research
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.17-28
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• 2012

Air pollution levels of gases and aerosol particles inside the Jeongneung and Hongjimun tunnels of the Naebu express way in Seoul were investigated through on-road measurement using a mobile emission laboratory (MEL) on February 8, 2011. The concentrations of $NO_x$, $CO_2$, number concentration of particles ranging 21-560 nm, and surface area of particles deposited on a human lung almost linearly increased with increasing distance from the tunnel entrance, and decreased rapidly before the tunnel exit. This trend was observed regardless of tunnel length and driving directions, which thought to be caused by semi-transverse ventilation facilities of the tunnels. The concentration increments per 1-m distance for $NO_x$, $CO_2$, deposited particle surface area, and number of particles ranging 21-560 nm were 0.61~0.80 ppb, 0.16~0.21 ppm, $0.20{\sim}0.29{\mu}m^2/cm^3$, and 117~192 particles/$cm^3$, respectively. Average pollution levels inside the two tunnels for $CO_2$, deposited particle surface area, and number of particles >5.6 nm ranged 681~748 ppm, $246{\sim}381{\mu}m^2/cm^3$, and $2.4{\sim}6.7{\times}10^5$ particles/$cm^3$, respectively. In case of $NO_x$, the maximum concentration exceeded 1 ppm. These pollution levels inside the tunnels are much higher than those at urban background sites. This result can be utilized as basic data to evaluate the effectiveness of present ventilation system for reducing the pollution level caused by vehicles inside the tunnels.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.20 no.12
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• pp.1874-1879
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• 2007

A total of one hundred and forty four weaned pigs with an average BW of $8.09{\pm}0.05$ kg were used in a 28 day study to investigate the effects of fermented soy protein on growth performance, blood urea nitrogen and total protein concentrations in serum and nutrient digestibility in weaner pigs. Pigs were blocked by initial body weight and randomly allocated to one of four dietary treatments in a randomized complete block design. There were six replications per treatment. Dietary treatments included: SBM (corn-soybean meal basal diet), F 5, 10 and 15 (fermented soy product was used at 5, 10 and 15% to replace soybean meal in basal diet, respectively). ADG (average daily gain) and ADFI (average daily feed intake) were not affected (p>0.05) by dietary treatments during the entire 4-wk study period. There were linear increments in feed efficiency (p<0.01) as the dietary FSP level increased during the entire feeding period. No significant differences were observed for dry matter and nitrogen digestibility during the experimental period (p>0.05). Digestibilities of histidine, lysine and methionine were increased as the FSP level increased (linear effect, p<0.05, p<0.01). Among non-essential amino acids, alanine, glutamic acid, serine, tyrosine and total non essential amino acid digestibilities were increased linearly (p<0.05, p<0.01). There were quadratic effects in protein digestibility (p<0.05). Total amino acid digestibility of the F15 diet was improved compared with the F5 diet (p<0.05). There were no significant differences in fecal consistency score among the treatments (p>0.05). At the end of experiment, BUN (blood urea nitrogen) concentration was increased as the FSP level increased (linear effect, p<0.01) and total protein concentration was lowest (p<0.05) for pigs fed the SBM diet among treatments. In conclusion, the feeding of 10 or 15% FSP to nursery pigs improved feed efficiency, amino acid digestibility and blood urea nitrogen and total protein concentrations in blood.

• Composites Research
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.46-51
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• 2017

Structural battery has been researched extensively to combine the functions of the battery and structure without gravimetric or volumetric increments compared to their individual components. The main idea is to employ carbon fabric as the reinforcement and electrode, glass fabric as the separator, and solid-state electrolyte which can transfer load. However, state-of-the-art solid-state electrolytes do not have sufficient load carrying functionality and exhibiting appropriate ion conductivity simultaneously. Therefore, in this research, a system which has both battery and load carrying capabilities using glass fabric separator and liquid electrolyte was devised and tested to investigate the potential and feasibility of this structural battery system and observe electric properties. It was observed that elongating separator decreased electrical behavior stability. A possible cause of this phenomenon was the elongated glass fabric separator inadequately preventing the penetration of small particles of the cathode material into the anode. This problem was verified additionally by using a commercial separator. The characteristic of the glass fabric and the interface between the electrode and glass fabric needed to be further studied for the realization of such a load carrying structural battery system.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.55-65
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• 1991

The study was performed to select a adaptable tree species under stressed field conditions where there are a industrial plants operating with a number of smoke stacks emitting pollutants, such as hydrogen fluoride and sulfur dioxide. As a result of the study, a tree species selected are due to construct a forest belt in a zones near industrial plants to reduce the concentrations of air pollutants. The concentrations of atmospheric hydrogen fluoride and sulfur dioxide were very higher at experimental sites near industrial plants (air-pollution sites) than at control site. The leaves of 7 tree species grown at air pollution sites contained more sulfur and, specially, fluorine than at those control site. Among the tested tree species, Ligustrum japonicum Thunb. and Euonymus japonica Thunb. grown at air pollution sites did not at all break out a foliar injury but appeared to be healthy, as well as those grown at control site. Acer pseudo-sieboldianum Kom., Pinus virginiana Mill., Larix leptolepis Gordon., Pinus koraiensis Sieb. et Zucc., Pinus strobus L., Picea abies Karst and Ligustrum obtusifolium Sieb. et Zucc., however, showed a severe fluoride-type foliar injury such as necrosis on tip or margin of leaves, etc. Fluorine found in leaves was proved to be correlated to sulfur found in leaves whereas index of foliar injury hadn't a good correlation to pollutants found in leaves. It appears that Euonymus japonica Thunb., Ligustrum japonica Thunb., Platanus acerifolia Willd, Chamaecyparis pisifera Endl., Populus tomentiglandulosa T. Lee and Sophora japonica L. grown at both experimental sites had a high value of percent survival whereas Pinus virginiana Mill., Pinus koraiensis Sib. et Zucc., Koelreuteria paniculata Laxm. and Alnus hirsuta Rupr. had an extremely low value of that. In comparison with control site, the percent tree height increments in Chamaecyparis pisifera Endl., Ligustrum japonicum Thunb., Quercus acutissima Carruth., Populus tomentiglandulosa T. Lee, Pinus thunbergii Parl and Euonymus japonica Thunb. and the percent upmost root diameters in Populus tomentiglandulosa T. Lee, Chamaecyparis pisifera Endl., Euonymus japonica Thunb., Ligustrum japonicum Thunb., Betula platyphylla var. japonica Hara and Pinus thunbergii Parl. cultivated at air polluted sites showed very high value above 90%, respectively. A significant negative correlation (r=-0.662) was recognized between the index of foliage injury and the percent collective character, which was the mean of tree characters such as percent survival, percent tree height increment and percent upmost root diameter increment which compared to those at air polluted site with those at control site. Based on the percent collective character Ligustrum japonicum Thunb., Euonymus japonica Thunb., Chamaecyparis pisifera Endl., Populus tomentiglandlosa T. Lee, Betula platyphyla var. japonica Hara and Platanus occidentalis L. have large value about 90%, respectively. Therefore, the results indicate that this tree species are adaptable species in air polluted regions. For better understanding of the adaptable tree species, furthur studies concerning the effects of various air pollutants on the tree growth are required.

• Asian Journal of Atmospheric Environment
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.259-267
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• 2012

To clarify the effects of black carbon (BC) particles on growth and gas exchange rates of Asian forest tree species, the seedlings of Fagus crenata, Castanopsis sieboldii, Larix kaempferi and Cryptomeria japonica were exposed to BC particles with sub-micron size for two growing seasons from 1 June 2009 to 11 November 2010. The BC particles deposited after the exposure to BC were observed on the foliar surface of the 4 tree species. At the end of the experiment, the amount of BC accumulated on the foliar surface after the exposure to BC aerosols were 0.13, 0.69, 0.32 and 0.58 mg C $m^{-2}$ total leaf area in F. crenata, C. sieboldii, L. kaempferi and C. japonica seedlings, respectively. In August 2010, the exposure to BC particles did not significantly affect net photosynthetic rate under any light intensity, stomatal diffusive conductance to water vapour ($g_s$), stomatal limitation of photosynthesis, response of $g_s$ to increase in vapour pressure deficit and leaf temperature under light saturated condition in the leaves or needles of the seedlings. These results suggest that the BC particles deposited on the foliar surface did not reduce net photosynthesis by shading, did not increase leaf temperature by absorption of irradiation light, and did not induce plugging of stomata in the leaves or needles of the seedlings. There were no significant effects of BC particles on the increments of plant height and stem base diameter during the experimental period and the whole-plant dry mass at the end of the experiment. These results indicate that the exposure to BC particles with sub-micron size for two growing seasons did not significantly affect the growth and leaf or needle gas exchange rates of F. crenata, C. sieboldii, L. kaempferi and C. japonica seedlings.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.1 no.3
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• pp.184-188
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• 2007

The major goal in the treatment of diabetes mellitus is to achieve near-normal glycemic control. To optimize both fasting blood glucose and postprandial glucose levels is important in keeping blood glucose levels as close to normal as possible. ${\alpha}-Glucosidase$ is the enzyme that digests dietary carbohydrate, and inhibition of this enzyme could suppress postprandial hyperglycemia. The purpose of this study was to test the inhibitory activity of methanol extract of Euonymus alatus on ${\alpha}-glucosidase$ in vitro and in vivo to evaluate its possible use as an anti-diabetic agent. Yeast ${\alpha}-glucosidase$ inhibitory activities of methanol extract of E. alatus were measured at concentrations of 0.50, 0.25, 0.10, and 0.05 mg/ml. The ability of E. alatus to lower postprandial glucose was studied in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. A starch solution (1 g/kg) with and without E. alatus extract (500 mg/kg) was administered to diabetic rats by gastric intubation after an overnight fast. Plasma glucose levels were measured at 30, 60, 90, 120, 180, and 240 min. Plasma glucose levels were expressed in increments from baseline, and incremental areas under the response curve were calculated. Extract of E. alatus, which had an $IC_{50}$ value of 0.272 mg/ml, inhibited yeast ${\alpha}-glucosidase$ activity in a concentration-dependent manner. A single oral dose of E. alatus extract significantly inhibited increases in blood glucose levels at 60 and 90 min (p<0.05) and significantly decreased incremental response areas under the glycemic response curve (p<0.05). These results suggest that E. alatus has an antihyperglycemic effect by inhibiting ${\alpha}-glucosidase$ activity in this animal model of diabetes mellitus.