• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.33-36
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• 2014

Objective: To estimate the failure rate of medical treatment and to identify variables associated with treatment failure in patients with tubal pregnancy and an initial serum level of human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) over 10,000 IU/L. Methods: The inclusion criteria were tubal pregnancy diagnosed using ultrasonography, primary treatment of intramuscular methotrexate injection at one of the four institutions between January 2003 and December 2011, a serum HCG level within two days before treatment >10,000 IU/L, and follow-up data to determine treatment success or failure. Exclusion criteria were other primary treatments besides intramuscular methotrexate injection. The clinicopathologic data of 36 patients were collected and analyzed. Results: Medical treatment failed and surgery was performed in 19 (53%) patients. In univariable analysis, age, parity, and size of the gestational sac were associated with treatment failure, but none of the variables were associated with treatment failure in multivariable analysis. The failure rate in the subgroup with age<33 years and size of gestational sac ${\geq}1.1cm$ was significantly higher than those of the other subgroups (82% vs. 41% [mean of the other subgroups], respectively). Conclusion: Patients with a serum HCG level >10,000 IU/L who received medical treatment had a high failure rate. Among them, patients aged<33 year and with a gestational sac ${\geq}1.1cm$ had an extremely high failure rate.

• Journal of Korea Technology Innovation Society
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.105-128
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• 2012

This paper proposes the technological level assessment which improved reliability and the efficient noise elimination methods in the process of establishing patent map analysis data. In order to eliminate efficiently noise (removed by the manual process in the past), the paper applies the Logical Operator 'AND', makes it a program in excel VBA(Visual Basic Application), and obtains the valid data. For the improved reliability technological level assessment of the patents, the study calculates average number of claims, Patent Family Size(PFS), Cites Per Patent (CPP), Triad Patent Families, Standardization Patent Diversification Index (stdPCPI), and haF-index(Hirsch a Family index). The result which applied noise exclusion work showed less than 10% of acquired patent data ratio and confirmed high reliability. The result that apply proposed technological level assessment index makes sure that balanced technological level assessment which improved reliability by producing synthetic technological level assessment.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.37 no.6
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• pp.458-468
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• 2021

In this study, we investigated the variations of dissolved organic matter (DOM) in an agricultural reservoir during the monsoon period (June to October, 2020) with respect to the organic carbon concentration (DOC), molecular weight distribution, and optical properties. The monsoon period was divided into three phases - beginning storm (BS), during storm (DS), and after storm (AS). Our results showed significant differences in the concentrations and characteristics of DOM during the summer monsoon. The DOC concentrations were decreased after the monsoon, probably due to a dilution effect. In contrast, increasing trends were observed in the specific UV absorbance (SUVA), and relative abundances of humic-like fluorescence and larger-sized compounds. These observations implied that the large-sized and humic-like organic components with terrestrial origins strongly affected the reservoir DOM after the summer monsoon. Meanwhile, biopolymer size fraction, which is associated with algal activity, became more abundant after the monsoon. These results suggest that DOM with autochthonous sources became dominant as a result of the inflow of nutrients into the reservoir after the storm. Spatial changes in DOM within the reservoir were not pronounced as much as the temporal variations. All taken, it can be concluded that the summer monsoon simply led to the decrease of DOM concentrations while the sources and the quality of DOM underwent substantial changes, which may enrich refractory organic matter in the reservoir. This study reveals the importance of in-depth DOM quality monitoring before and after summer monsoon for effective water quality management in agricultural reservoirs.

• Journal of Industrial Convergence
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• v.20 no.9
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• pp.71-79
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• 2022

This study comprised a systematic review and meta-analysis to determine how digital health care to relieve depression of the elderly. The CINAHL, Embase, Medline, DBpia, KERIS, KISS and RISS were used. As a result of the systematic search, a total of 4,071 studies were assessed and six studies were ultimately selected based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Of these, a total of five studies were available for meta-analysis; the effect size was calculated. The effect size of digital health care was statistically significant in reducing depression(SMD=-4.73, 95% CI -7.44 to -2.01, Z=3.41, p=.0007). Since only web-based programs are included in the analysis among types of digital health care, we suggest that we consider ways to reduce depression in the elderly by applying various digital health care in the future.

• Journal of Industrial Convergence
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• v.21 no.12
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• pp.101-111
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• 2023

This study conducted systematic review and meta-analysis to analyze the effectiveness of a dual-task for cognitive function in patients with MCI in Korea. A search was conducted using eight databases, and the search terms were MCI, cognition, and dual task. This study includes RCT and nonRCT published from January 2013 to July 2023. A total of 682 studies were searched, and 8 studies that fulfilled the inclusion and exclusion criteria were finally analyzed. Methodological quality was assessed with the RoB, RoBANS. The meta-analysis used CMA 4.0 ver. As a result of the analysis, the overall effect size of the dual task was medium effect size. The effect size according to the outcome variables was large for orientation and executive function, and medium effect size for global cognitive function, visuospatial function, memory, and attention. As a result of analysis according to the intervention period, the effect was greater when applied for 4 to 8 weeks, and the effect size was larger when applied for 24 to 30 sessions. This study presented clinical evidence on the effectiveness and application method of a dual-task applied to improve cognitive function in patients with MCI.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.154-160
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• 2022

Background: The mango is one of the essential fruit trees for the economy of Thailand. Mango pollination relies primarily on insects. Other external forces, such as wind, are less efficient since pollen is sticky and aggregating. There is only one report from Thailand on the use of bees as mango pollinators. The study of the behavior and pollination efficiency of honey bees (Apis mellifera) and stingless bees (Tetragonula laeviceps species complex) was conducted in Nam Dokmai mango plantings in Phrao and Mae Taeng districts, Chiang Mai province, between February and March 2019. Results: Our results reveal that the honey bees commenced foraging earlier than the stingless bee. The number of flowers visited within 1 minute by honey bees was higher than that visited by stingless bees. The average numbers of honey bees and stingless bees that flew out of the hive per minute from 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. in the Phrao district were 4.21 ± 1.62 and 9.88 ± 7.63 bees/min, respectively, i.e., higher than those observed in Mae Taeng, which were 3.46 ± 1.13 and 1.23 ± 1.20 bees/min, respectively. The numbers of fruits per tree were significantly higher in the honey bee and stingless bee treatments (T1 and T2) than in the open pollination treatment (T3). The number of fruits between T1 and T2 treatments was not different. In the pollinator exclusion treatment (T4), no fruit was produced. Fruit size factors were not significantly different among T1, T2, and T3 treatments. Conclusions: Our results showed that insect pollination is crucial for mango production, especially with the Nam Dokmai variety in Northern Thailand. As pollinator exclusion treatment showed no fruit set, and pollinator treatment significantly increased the fruit sets compared to open access plots, a managed pollinator program would benefit the mango growers for better productivity. Both the honey bee and the stingless bee were shown to be effective as pollinators.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.82-90
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• 1999

In order to eventually fabricate an analytical system for infectious microorganisms, we synthesized major immunochemical components, utilized them for the construction of model system, and investigated an assay concept for bacterial whole cells. For the preparation of system components, a polyclonal antibody, against Salmonella thompson as model analyte, purified by immuno-affinity chromatography was used to chemically link to streptavidin or an enzyme, horseradish peroxidase(HRP). The antibody and streptavidin was modified with sulfosuccinimidyl 4-[N-maleimidomethyl]cyclohexane-1-carboxylate and N-succinimidyl-3-[2-pyridyldithio]propionate(subsequently activated by dithiotheritol), respectively. The modified components were reacted to synthesize antibody-streptavidin conjugates which were then purified on a two-layer chromatography column of diaminobiotin gel and Sephadex G-100. For antibody-HRP conjugates, HRP molecules were activated by $NalO_4$ oxidation and then coupled to immunoglobulin. After stabilizing with ($NaCNBH_3$, the conjugates were purified by size exclusion chromatography on Biogel A5M column. To devise a model system, such produced components were combined with a dot-blotter in which a nitrocellulose membrane($12{\mu}m$ pre size) with immobilized biotin was already located. The analyte (S. thompson cells) was reacted with the both antibody conjugates in a liquid phase, and the complexes formed were captured on the membrane surfaces by applying vacuum in the bottom compartment of the blotter to invoke biotin-streptavidin reaction. Under optimal conditions, the system enabled to identify the analytical concept for bacterial whole cells, and the lower limit of detection was approximately $1{\mu}g/m{\ell}$($10^5-10^6$ cells/m$m{\ell}$). The controlling factors were the concentrations of each antibody conjugate that caused agglutination in the presence of analyte as they increased.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.428-433
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• 2013

Heterogenous samples of locust bean gum (galactomannan) were prepared into homogeneous substances. Locust bean gum was fractioned using ammonium sulfate (14.11-23.08%, w/w). The intrinsic viscosity was obtained by extrapolating reduced viscosity versus concentration by using an Ubbelohde viscometer. The ranges of intrinsic viscosity for fractions that not included protein (F3-F6) and fractions that included protein (F1-F2) were 9.89-8.10 and 8.44-4.59, respectively. Values for Huggins' coefficient (k'), which depends on physical interactions, were 0.46-0.78. Increasing ammonium sulfate concentration was associated with a weak trend towards lower molecular weight and intrinsic viscosity by size-exclusion chromatography (SEC): $M_w$ ranged from 674 to 617 kg/mol and [${\eta}$] from 9.80 to 8.10 dL/g between F3 and F6. The evaluations of those fractions by using SEC and the Ubbelohde viscometer produced very similar values, as predicted. We verified the application of a gradient of ammonium sulfate to precipitate locust bean gum into fractions of different molecular size and show structural variations.

• Journal of Korea Water Resources Association
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• v.43 no.6
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• pp.507-516
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• 2010

The purpose of this study is to propose the alternative development method by means of determining the optimal project size from the economic viewpoint, improving the existing method depending on engineering aspects. To this end, this study defined the flood mitigation projects as the production activities carried out by inputs and outputs, and proposed the alternative development method on the basis of optimizing input and output combinations. This paper, as the case study of the proposed method, developed alternatives for the flood mitigation planning of Youngsan River Basin by determining the optimal project scale. As the result of determining optimal project size, the net benefit of the optimal alternative tended to be dependent on the net benefits of the large individual proposals. Due to such problem, the effect of relatively small individual proposals are underestimated and possibly be excluded from the optimal alternative, which may result in exclusion of the potential damaged regions protected by them from the flood mitigation project. Thus for the selective flood protection by region, individual proposals need to be categorized into the global measures and local measures according to the flood protection area.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.175-180
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• 2010

Albumin-modification has been viewed as one of the most effective ways of extending the short in vivo lifetimes of peptide drugs by delaying glomerular filtration. In this study, we describe a new type 2 anti-diabetic exendin-4 (Ex4) peptide derivative with significant binding ability to human serum albumin (HSA). This exendin-4 derivative consists of a 4-branched polyethylene glycol $(PEG)_{5k}$ (Mw: 20 kDa) modified with three stearylamines ($C_{18}-NH_2$) and one exendin-4 on its branches. PEG and stearylamine were selected to provide functionality to increase molecular size and bind to albumin, respectively. This derivative ($3C_{18}-4PEG_{5k}$-Ex4) was shown to have larger molecular size (Ca. 152 kDa) than actual (25.0 kDa) when subjected to size-exclusion chromatography, and the fluorescein-tagged $3C_{18}-4PEG_{5k}$-Ex4 displayed significant binding to the HSA-immobilized Sepharose CL-4B resin using confocal laser scanning microscopy. Furthermore, $3C_{18}-4PEG_{5k}$-Ex4 was found to have acceptable anti-hyperglycemic efficacy via three consecutive oral glucose tolerance testings (OGTT) in fasted type 2 diabetic db/db mice. The $HD_{total}$ value ($57.6{\pm}12.3%$) of $3C_{18}-4PEG_{5k}$-Ex4 at a 50 nmol/kg dose was 2-fold greater than that ($31.0{\pm}8.7%$) of native exendin-4 in non-fasted db/db mice. Especially, the blood glucose levels in the mice group treated with $3C_{18}-4PEG_{5k}$-Ex4 did not rebound to ~150 mg/dL until 24 h after the injection, which obviously shows the extended hypoglycemia. We believe that this derivative has great pharmaceutical potential as a novel long-acting type 2 anti-diabetic injection treatment.