• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.50 no.8
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• pp.774-780
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• 2007

Purpose : The anthracyclines (AC) are widely used chemotherapeutic agents for pediatric cancers. However, the therapeutic use of these agents is limited by their cardiotoxicity. The aim of the present study was to investigate the usefulness of plasma B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels as a marker for AC-induced cardiotoxicity compared to echocardiography in Korean children with cancer. Methods : Fifty-five pediatric cancer patients who had received chemotherapy including AC were enrolled. The cumulative AC doses, clinical symptoms, and two echocardiography parameters, left ventricular fractional shortening (LVFS) and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), were studied and compared with plasma BNP levels. Results : In 55 patients, plasma BNP levels were measured 115 times and echocardiographies were performed 64 times. The median cumulative dose of AC was $325mg/m^2$ (range 120-600; mean 345) and the median plasma BNP level was 10 pg/mL (range 5-950; mean 31). The cumulative AC doses correlated significantly with the plasma BNP levels (P=0.002). The plasma BNP levels correlated significantly with LVFS (P=0.018) and LVEF (P=0.025). Dilated cardiomyopathies were identified in three patients. LVFS and LVEF decreased and plasma BNP levels increased in a patient with acute dilated cardiomyopathy and in that with symptomatic chronic dilated cardiomyopathy. However, LVFS, LVEF and plasma BNP levels were normal in a patient with asymptomatic chronic dilated cardiomyopathy. Conclusion : The results of this study demonstrated that plasma BNP levels could be used as a marker for AC-induced cardiotoxicity; they showed good correlation with echocardiography findings in pediatric cancer patients. Plasma BNP levels may be used for the detection and management of AC-induced cardiotoxicity in Korean children with cancer.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.111-115
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• 2006

A feeding trial was conducted to test the use of marine yeasts isolated from seawaters and sediments as a dietary source in cultivating a Cladocera, Moina macrocopa which is available as an alternative live food for fish larvae. The marine yeast-fed M. macrocopa had similar essential amino acid profiles to the documented values for Rotifers and Artemia enriched in microalgae and commercial diets. Erythrobacter sp. $S{\pi}-1$ lacked ${\omega}-3$ high unsaturated fatty acids (HUFAs), $20:5{\omega}-3$ (EPA) and $22:6{\omega}-3$ (DHA), which were also poor but detected in both the marine yeasts. An increase in the $20:5{\omega}-3$ and $22:6{\omega}-3$ levels, compared with the levels in marine yeast strains themselves, was more pronounced in the $22:6{\omega}-3$ level of Moina fed the Candida sp. Y-16, resulting in a high DHA:EPA ratio. When the Moina diets were switched, their ${\delta}^{13}C$ values shifted gradually toward the values of the switched diets. Diet switch from Erythrobacter sp. $S{\pi}-1$to Candide sp. Y.16 resulted in a more rapid turnover of Moina tissue carbon than that in the inverse case. When fed a mixed diet, the ${\delta}^{13}C$ values of Moina tissue approached the value of marine yeasts immediately. These temporal changes in the ${\delta}^{13}C$ values of Moina tissue indicate the preferential ingestion of marine yeasts and a selective assimilation of the carbon originated from marine yeasts. These findings suggest that marine yeasts, particularly Candida sp. Y-16, are highly available to mass cultures of M. macrocopa, providing better nutritional and dietaty values than the commercial diet (Erythrobacter sp. $S{\pi}-1$).

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.265-271
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• 2019

In general, specific gravity (SG) and urinary creatinine (CR) have been used to adjust urinary cadmium (Cd) concentrations. However, the validity of correction methods has been controversial. We compared the two adjustments to evaluate associations between urinary Cd and various renal damage markers and to evaluate the relationship between urinary Cd concentration and renal disease markers, such as estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), in a relatively large general population sample. Among the 1,086 volunteers who were enrolled in this study, 862 healthy volunteers who did not have kidney disease were included in the final analysis. Urinary Cd, malondialdehyde (MDA), and N-acetyl-${\beta}$-D-glucosaminidase (NAG) concentrations were measured, the creatinine-based eGFR was calculated, and the relationships between these markers were subsequently analyzed. This study showed the use of urinary Cd concentration adjusted with SG rather than with urinary creatinine may be appropriate in studies evaluating renal function based on Cd exposure. Urinary Cd concentration adjusted with SG had a positive correlation with urinary MDA levels and a negative correlation with eGFR. This relationship was relatively stronger in women than in men. This study showed that urinary Cd level was associated with decreased eGFR in the general population, and oxidative stress was likely to act as an intermediator in this process. These results suggest that eGFR can be a very good indicator of kidney damage caused by Cd exposure in the general population.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.511-519
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• 2021

The Perilla frutescens var. japonica HARA is widely cultivated in Korea for vegetable leaves and oil seeds. Perilla species have been used for food and medicine and are known to contain many functional compounds. In this study, we investigated the functional compound contents of Perilla during its growth stages to analyze the optimal harvest time and conditions. The contents of the Perilla sprouts were analyzed according to culture environment and days of growth. Sprouts grown in soil under natural light conditions showed high rosmarinic acid (23.19±0.16 mg/g) and GABA (0.55±0.05 mg/g) content. Therefore, the results suggest that 6 to 8 days after sowing in soil under natural light conditions was the optimum harvest condition for sprouts. Also, the functional compounds of Perilla were analyzed according to growth stage and plant part. As a result, caffeic acid and rosmarinic acid exhibited the highest content in the stage from vegetative growth to reproductive growth (0.28±0.03 ~ 0.30±0.07 mg/g rosmarinic acid and 20.60±7.02 ~ 19.37±3.18 mg/g caffeic acid), and luteolin and GABA showed the highest content in the reproductive growth stage and in the early stages of vegetative growth, respectively (31.11±2.98 ~ 22.35±1.64 ㎍/g luteolin and 0.42±0.09 ~ 0.37±0.04 mg/g GABA). It was confirmed that the content of caffeic acid (0.34±0.03 mg/g), rosmarinic acid (55.22±9.33 mg/g) and luteolin (1,044.89±6.72 ㎍/g) was the highest during the bolting stage. Overall, we identified the timing of the highest level of functional compounds in the sprouts and mature leaves of Perilla. These results suggest a suitable harvest time and conditions for sprouts and leaves for the use of Perilla as a functional material.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.401-408
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• 2022

As research on a controlled environment system based on crop growth environment sensing for sustainable production of horticultural crops and its industrial use has been important, research on how to properly utilize soil moisture sensors for outdoor cultivation is being actively conducted. This experiment was conducted to suggest the proper method of utilizing the TEROS 12, an FDR (frequency domain reflectometry) sensor, which is frequently used in industry and research fields, for each orchard soil in three regions in Korea. We collected soils from each orchard where fruit trees were grown, investigated the soil characteristics and soil water retention curve, and compared TEROS 12 sensor calibration equations to correlate the sensor output to the corresponding soil volumetric water content through linear and cubic regressions for each soil sample. The estimated value from the calibration equation provided by the manufacturer was also compared. The soil collected from all three orchards showed different soil characteristics and volumetric water content values by each soil water retention level across the soil samples. In addition, the cubic calibration equation for TEROS 12 sensor showed the highest coefficient of determination higher than 0.95, and the lowest RMSE for all soil samples. When estimating volumetric water contents from TEROS 12 sensor output using the calibration equation provided by the manufacturer, their calculated volumetric water contents were lower than the actual volumetric water contents, with the difference up to 0.09-0.17 m³·m^-3 depending on the soil samples, indicating an appropriate calibration for each soil should be preceded before FDR sensor utilization. Also, there was a difference in the range of soil volumetric water content corresponding to the soil water retention levels across the soil samples, suggesting that the soil water retention information should be required to properly interpret the volumetric water content value of the soil. Moreover, soil with a high content of sand had a relatively narrow range of volumetric water contents for irrigation, thus reducing the accuracy of an FDR sensor measurement. In conclusion, analyzing soil water retention characteristics of the target soil and the soil-specific calibration would be necessary to properly quantify the soil water status and determine their adequate irrigation point using an FDR sensor.

• Journal of Korean Society of Disaster and Security
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.9-16
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• 2024

In Korea, as disasters become larger and more complex, there is a trend of shifting from a focus on response and recovery to a focus on prevention and preparedness. In order to prevent and prepare for disasters, each local government manages disaster management resources by stockpiling them. However, although disaster management resources are stored in individual warehouses, they are managed by department rather than by warehouse, resulting in insufficient management of disaster management resources due to the heavy workload of those in charge. In order to intensively manage these disaster management resources, an integrated disaster management resource management center is established and managed at the metropolitan/provincial level. In the case of Gangwon-do, the subject of this study, a warehouse is rented and operated as an integrated disaster management resource management center. When leasing an integrated management center, there is the inconvenience of having to move the location every 1 to 2 years, so it is deemed necessary to build a dedicated facility in an available site. To select a location candidate, network analysis was used to measure access to and use of facilities along interconnected routes of networks such as roads and railways. During network analysis, the Location-Allocation method, which was widely used in the past to determine the location of multiple facilities, was applied. As a result, Hoengseong-gun in Gangwon-do was identified as a suitable candidate site. In addition, if the integrated management center uses our country's logistics system to stockpile disaster management resources, local governments can mobilize disaster management resources in 3 days, and it is said that it takes 3 days to return to normal life after a disaster occurs. Each city's disaster management resource stockpile is 3 days' worth per week, and the integrated management center stores 3 times the maximum of the city's 4-day stockpile.

• The Korean Journal of Financial Management
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.169-204
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• 2010

This paper examines the dynamic relationship between fund flow and market risk at the aggregate level and explores whether sudden sharp changes in fund flow (fund run) can cause a systemic risk in the Korean financial markets. We use daily and weekly data and regression and VAR analysis. Main results of the paper are as follows: First, in the stock market, a concurrent and a lagged unexpected fund flows have a positive relationship with market volatility. A positive shock in fund flow predicts an increase in stock market volatility. In the bond market, an unexpected fund flow has a negative relationship with the default risk premium, but a positive relationship with the term premium. And an unexpected fund flow of the money market fund has a negative relationship with the liquidy risk, but the explanatory power is very low. Second, for examining whether changes in fund flow induce a systemic risk, we construct a spillover index based on the forecast error variance decomposition of VAR model. A spillover index represents that how much the shock in fund flow can explain the change of market risk in a market. In general, explanatory powers from spillover indexes are so fluctuant and low. In the stock market, the impact of shocks in fund flow on market risk is relatively high and persistent during the period from the end of 2007 to 2008, which is the subprime-mortgage crisis period. In bond market, since the end of 2008, the impact of shocks in fund flow spreads to default risk continually, while in the money market, such a systematic effect doesn't take place. The persistent patterns of spillover effect appearing around a certain period in the stock market and the bond market suggest that the shock to the unexpected fund flow may increase the market risk and can be a cause of systemic risk in the financial markets. However, summarizing the results of regression and VAR model analysis, and considering the very low explanatory power of spillover index analysis, we can conclude that changes in fund flow have a very limited power in explaining changes in market risk and it is not very likely to induce the systemic risk by a fund run in the Korean financial markets.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.347-352
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• 1996

These experiments were conducted to monitor the change in $NO_3{^-}-N$ in a plastic film house where $NO_3{^-}-N$ have been accumulated in the soil of high level (about 370 mg/kg) The objective of this study was to obtain the information needed to establish the N Fertilizer recommendation based on the available N content in the soil for vegetable cultivation. The cultivated crops were chinese cabbage in the spring, lettuce in the summer, and chinese cabbage in the autumn. The crops were cultivated with and without N application. The concentration of $NO_3{^-}-N$ in the soil was analysed before and after the cultivation of each crop. When $NO_3{^-}-N$ in the soil is as high as 370 mg/kg. even without N application, the yield of the first season crop, cabbage in the spring was 175 ton/ha and that of second season crop, lettuce in the summer was 53 ton/ha. These yields were comparable with those obtained under the application of N fertilizer: meaning that no N application would be needed for those crops when $NO_3{^-}-N$ in the soil is as high as 370 mg/kg. The yield of third crop, cabbage in the autumn was higher under N application than that under no N application by 62%. The fate of $NO_3{^-}-N$ in the soil differed along with the crop sequence. In the first crop, 14.5% was absorbed by crop, 25.4% remained in the soil and 60.1% was unaccounted for. In the second season, 25.3% was absorbed by crop, 51.8% remained in the soil and 22.9% was unaccounted for. In the third crop, 62.8% was absorbed by crop, 19.4% remained in the soil and 16.8% was unaccounted for.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.252-263
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• 2013

Objectives : Skin color deformation by cupping has been widely used as a diagnostic parameter in Traditional Korean Medicine(TKM). Skin color deformation such as ecchymoses and purpura is induced by local vacuum in a suction cup. Since existing studies have relied on a visual diagnostic method, there is a need to use the quantitative measurement method. Methods : We conducted an analysis of cross-polarization photographic images to assess the changes in skin color deformation. The skin color variation was analyzed using $L^*a^*b^*$ space and the skin erythema index(E.I.). The meridian theory in TKM indicates that the condition of primary internal organs is closely related to the skin color deformation at special acupoints. Before conducting these studies, it is necessary to evaluate whether or not skin color deformation is influenced by muscle condition. Hence, we applied cupping at BL13, BL15, BL18, BL20 and BL23 at Bladder Meridian(BL) and measured blood lactate at every acupoint. Results : We confirmed the high system measurement accuracy, and observed the diverse skin color deformations. Moreover, we confirmed that the $L^*$, $a^*$ and E.I. had not changed after 40 minutes(p>0.05). The distribution of blood lactate levels at each part was observed differently. Blood lactate level and skin color deformation at each part was independent of each other. Conclusions : The negative pressure produced by the suction cup induces a reduction in the volumetric fraction of melanosomes and subsequent reduction in epidermal thickness. The relationship between variations of tissue and skin properties and skin color deformation degree must be investigated prior to considering the relationship between internal organ dysfunction and skin color deformation.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.121-128
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• 2014

Purpose: To compare the clinical characteristics and laboratory finding between adenoviral and group A streptococcal (GAS) pharyngitis. Methods: A retrospective review of medical records was performed in the patients with adenovirus infection among those who were admitted for febrile respiratory disease from January 2011 to July 2013 and GAS pharyngitis among those who visited for symptoms of scarlet fever from August 2006 to July 2013. Results: 179 patients (AV1 group) were diagnosed with adenoviral pharyngitis and 37 (AV2 group) of these patients had adenovirus single infection. 26 patients (GAS group) were diagnosed with scarlet fever. Adenoviral infection (AV2 group) developed in younger patients compared to GAS group ($2.8{\pm}2.1$ years vs. $5.4{\pm}1.8$ years, P =0.000). Total durations of fever and admission were longer in AV2 ($6.3{\pm}2.6$ days vs. $3.3{\pm}1.9$ days, P =0.000; $4.1{\pm}1.2$ days vs. $1.9{\pm}1.8$ days, P =0.000, respectively). WBC counts were higher in AV2 ($11,449{\pm}5,680$ cells/$mm^2$ vs. $6,722{\pm}6,941$ cells/$mm^2$, P =0.000). CRP was not significantly different between AV2 and GAS group ($3.8{\pm}3.2$ mg/dL vs. $5.2{\pm}5.1$ mg/dL, P =0.368). No difference was found between two groups in the percentage of antibiotics use (91.9% vs. 100%, P =0.261). Conclusion: Clinical characteristics and measures of inflammation in the laboratory findings were similar between adenoviral and GAS pharyngitis group. It is necessary to conduct the test for respiratory virus and bacteria in early stage to differentiate in the pharyngitis patients with leukocytosis and elevation of CRP level.