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Chemical Saturation Breath-hold Fast MR Imaging for characterization of Regional Fatty Changes in Liver (화학적 포화 호흡정지 급속 자기공명영상에서 국소적 간지방병변의 특성화)

  • 김동국;유정식;김태훈;오세정;김지형
    • Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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    • v.1 no.1
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    • pp.135-141
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    • 1997
  • Purpose: To assess the usefulness of breath-hold fast MR imaging of liver with fat suppression (FS) by application of chemical saturation technique in the diagnosis of regional fatty changes suspected in sonography. Materials and Methods: Thirteen patients who had focal lesions with diffuse, homogeneous signal changes after FS through chemical saturation technique without additional changes of imaging parameter during MR imaging of liver were selected. T1-weighted fast low-angle shot and T2-weighted turbo spin-echo sequences were obtained with or without FS during each single breath-holding session. Subjective changes of signal intensity between the pre-FS and the FS images were compared with the sonographic findings in each lesion. Results: Seven lesions of decreased signal intensity after FS on T1 or T2-weighted images, including three lesions only at FS T1 images, were regarded as focal fat infiltration. All seven lesions had compatible sonographic findings as homogenously echogenic areas. Another six lesions of subjectively increased signal intensity including two lesions only at FS T2 images were regarded as focal fat sparing. All six lesions had sonographic findings as homogenous echo poor areas suggesting focal fat sparing. In cases regarded as fat infiltration, score changes were more prominent at FS T1 images than FS T2 images(p=0.0002). In cases regarded as fat sparing, score changes were more prominent at FS T2 images than FS T1 images(p=0.042). Conclusion: Breath-hold fast T1 and T2-weighted MR imaging with and without chemical saturation pre-pulse may be sufficient for characterization of regional fatty changes in the differential diagnosis of focal hepatic lesion found at sonography.

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Operating Optimization and Economic Evaluation of Multicomponent Gas Separation Process using Pressure Swing Adsorption and Membrane Process (압력 순환 흡착과 막 분리공정을 이용한 다성분 기체의 분리공정 조업 최적화 및 경제성 평가)

  • Kim, Hansol;Lee, Jaewook;Lee, Soobin;Han, Jeehoon;Lee, In-Beum
    • Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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    • v.53 no.1
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    • pp.31-38
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    • 2015
  • At present, carbon dioxide ($CO_2$) emission, which causes global warming, is a major issue all over the world. To reduce $CO_2$ emission directly, commercial deployment of $CO_2$ separation processes has been attempted in industrial plants, such as power plant, oil refinery and steelmaking plant. Besides, several studies have been done on indirect reduction of $CO_2$ emission from recycle of reducing gas (carbon monoxide or hydrogen containing gas) in the plants. Unlike many competing gas separation technologies, pressure swing adsorption (PSA) and membrane filtration are commercially used together or individually to separate a single component from the gas mixture. However, there are few studies on operation of sequential separation process of multi-component gas which has more than two target gas products. In this paper, process simulation model is first developed for two available configurations: $CO_2$ PSA-CO PSA-$H_2$ PSA and $CO_2$ PSA-CO PSA-$H_2$ membrane. Operation optimization and economic evaluation of the processes are also performed. As a result, feed gas contains about 14% of $H_2$ should be used as fuel than separating $H_2$, and $CO_2$ separation should be separated earlier than CO separation when feed gas contains about 30% of $CO_2$ and CO. The simulation results can help us to find an optimal process configuration and operation condition for separation of multicomponent gas with $CO_2$, CO, $H_2$ and other gases.

Study on Amenity and Economical Efficiency of Multi-functionality on the Grassland (초지형 축산의 어메니티 및 경제성 평가에 관한 연구)

  • Cheon, D.W.;Lee, S.Y.;Park, M.S.;Park, H.S.;Hwang, K.J.;Yun, S.H.;Ko, M.S.
    • Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
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    • v.27 no.4
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    • pp.297-312
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    • 2007
  • This study is conducted to evaluate economical value of Jeju grassland and validity of its preservation, and draw up several measures to support. To measure its economical value, this study examined its environmental value and social and cultural value. For environmental value, this study used replacement method while it applied CVM method, a widely used method, to assess social and cultural value and two-level two-best choice selection method, which ask questions by assuming virtual circumstances to avoid reflecting some biased opinions. Jeju grassland has multiple functions-environmental functions such as preventing soil corrosion and flood, handling animal excrement, and purifying air, and social and cultural functions such as promoting physical and mental health and providing recreation places. From the results of the feasibility study, Jeju grassland's annual multiple functions are assessed to have a total $397,115{\sim}418,995$ million won worth. In addition, it is found that Jeju visitors recognize Jeju grassland for its functions to contribute to public interests. That is, they think it can provide attractive views and educational and recreational places and promote emotional development. Especially, many people presented their ideas that it be continuously preserved since it is worthwhile for us and our next generations. To preserve grassland's cultural resource, which create a huge economic value like this, the Government has to support a certain amount of financial aid for turning to a better grassland environment and its maintenance to realize environment-friendly livestock farming on Jeju Island and promote its tourism industry and consequently, add more value to Jeju.

Metabolic Study on C29-Brassinosteroids in Young Rice Plants (벼 유식물을 이용한 C29-Brassinosteroids의 대사)

  • Won, So-Yun;Joo, Se-Hwan;Kim, Seong-Ki
    • Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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    • v.34 no.3
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    • pp.243-251
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    • 2007
  • It has been recently demonstrated the presence of not only $C_{28}-BRs$ biosysnthesis, but also $C_{27}-$ and $C_{29}-BRs$ biosynthesis in plants, suggesting that BRs biosynthesis are complicatedly connected to produce biologically active BR (s). This prompted us to investigation of metabolism of a $C_{29}-BR$, 28-homoCS in seedlings of rice from which $C_{29}-BRs$ such as 28-homoTE and 28-homoTY have been identified. In vitro enzyme conversion study using a crude enzyme solution prepared from rice seedlings revealed that 28-homoCS is converted into both CS and 26-nor-28-homoCS, but their reversed reaction did not occur. This indicated that 28-homoCS is biosynthetically converted into more biologically active $C_{28}-BR$, CS by C-28 demethylation and biodegraded into 26-nor-28-homoCS by C-26 demethylation. Next, bio-conversion of 28-homoCS to 28-homoBL was examined by the same enzyme solution. No 28-homoBL as a metabolite of 28-homoCS was detected, meaning that biosynthetic reaction for 28-homoCS to 28-homoBL is not contained, and main connection of $C_{28}-BRs$ and $C_{29}-BRs$ biosynthesis is between CS and 28-homoCS in the rice seedling. This study is the first demonstrated that $C_{29}-BRs$ and $C_{28}-BRs$ bionsynthetic pathways are connected, and that $C_{29}-BRs$ biosynthetic pathway is an alternative biosynthetic pathway to produce more biologically active $C_{28}-BR$, CS in plant.

Analysis of $^1H$ MR Spectroscopy of parietal white matter material Phantom (두정부 백질 물질을 이용한 수소 자기 공명 분광 분석)

  • Lee, Jae-Yeong;Lim, Cheong-Hwan;Kim, Myeong-Soo
    • Journal of radiological science and technology
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    • v.26 no.2
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    • pp.57-61
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    • 2003
  • The purpose of this study is to compare both 1.5T and 4.7T in Praietal White matter material Phantom using the same methodology at both field strengths. Data at both field strengths are compared in terms of $T_2$ relaxation times, line widths and SNRs MR imaging and $^1H$ MR spectroscopy were performed on GE 1.5T SIGNA system and Broker Biospec 4.7T/30 MRI/MRS system. After phantom axial scan $^1H$ MRS was obtained from T2 weighted image by 3-dimensional localization technique(PRESS : Point RE solved spectroscopy Sequence) this phantom is composed of an aqueous solution 36.7 mmol/L of NAA, 25.0 mmol/L of Cr, 6.3 mmol/L of choline chloride, 30.0 mmol/L or Glu, and 22.5 mmol/L of MI(adjusted to a pH of 7,15 in a phosphate buffet). Data processed using software developed inhouse. At 1.5T, T2 relaxation times for Cho, Cr, and NAA were $0.41{\pm}0.07,\;0.26{\pm}0.04,\;0.46{\pm}0.07$ while at 4.7T they were $0.17{\pm}0.03,\;0.14{\pm}0.05,\;0.20{\pm}0.03$ respectively. At 1.5T, line widths for water, Cho, Cr and NAA were $2.9{\pm}0.7,\;1.6{\pm}0.7,\;1.7{\pm}0.8,\;2.2{\pm}0.02Hz$ while at 4.7T they were $5.2{\pm}1.1,\;4.6{\pm}1.9,\;4.01{\pm}1.8,\;4.8{\pm}1.9Hz$ respectively. It can be seen that $T_2$ relaxation times were significantly shorter at 4.7 compared to 1.5T and that the line widths were also broader. The average SNRs for NAA for subjects at short and long TEs were $23.5{\pm}11.3$ at TE=20 msec ; $15.4{\pm}7.7$ at TE=272 msec at 1.5T and $40{\pm}8.3$ and $17{\pm}3.5$ respectively at 4.7T higher field strength is superior because of improved sensitivity and chemical shift dispersion. However these improvements are partially offset by increased line widths and decrease $T_2$ relaxation times, which act to reduce both sensitivity and resolution. In our experiments with the equipment available to us, 4.7T proton spectra at short TEs exhibit moderately improved sensitivity compared to 1.5T.

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Epidemiologic and clinical features in children with acute lower respiratory tract infection caused by human metapneumovirus in 2006-2007 (2006-2007년 소아 급성 하기도 감염증에서 유행한 메타뉴모바이러스의 유행 및 임상 양상)

  • Park, Gwi Ok;Kim, Ji Hyun;Lee, Jae Hee;Lee, Jung Ju;Yun, Sin Weon;Lim, In Seok;Lee, Dong Keun;Choi, Eung Sang;Yoo, Byoung Hoon;Lee, Mi Kyung;Chae, Soo Ahn
    • Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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    • v.52 no.3
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    • pp.330-338
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    • 2009
  • Purpose : The causes of acute lower respiratory tract infection (ALRTI) are mostly attributable to viral infection, including respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), parainfluenza virus (PIV), influenza virus A/B (IFV A/B), or adenovirus (ADV). Several Korean studies reported human metapneumovirus (hMPV) as a common pathogen of ALRTI. However, studies on seasonal distribution and clinical differences relative to other viruses are insufficient, prompting us to perform this study. Methods : From November 2006 to October 2007, we tested nasopharyngeal aspiration specimens in children hospitalized with ALRTI with the multiplex reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction to identify 6 kinds of common pathogen (hMPV, RSV, PIV, IFV A/B, and ADV). We analyzed positive rates and clinical features by respiratory chart review. Results : We detected 38 (8.4%) hMPV-positive cases out of 193 (41.8%) virus-positive specimens among 462 patients. HMPV infection prevailed from March to June with incidence peaking in April. HMPV-positive patients were aged 15 years (76.3%), and the ratio of boys to girls was 1.2:1. The median age was 27 months. HMPV primarily caused pneumonia (76.3 %) (P=0.018). Average hospitalization of HMPV-associated ALRTI patients was 5.8 days. In addition, they showed parahilar peribronchial infiltration (100%) on chest X-ray, normal white blood cell count (73.7%), and negative C-reactive protein (86.8 %) (P>0.05). All hMPV-positive patients recovered without complication. Conclusion : HMPV is a common pathogen of ALRTI in Korean children, especially in 1-5 year olds, from March to May. Immunocompetent children diagnosed with hMPV-associated ALRTI may have a good prognosis.

Experimental Model of Cardiac Xenograft, Mouse Heart to Rat. (이종이형의 심장이식의 실험적 모델)

  • Kim, Byung-Il;Sohn, Sang-Tae;Shin, Sung-Ho;Chung, Won-Sang;Kim, Hyuk;Kim, Young-Hak;Kang, Jung-Ho;Jee, Heng-Ok;Lee, Chul-Burm;Seo, Jung-Kuk
    • Journal of Chest Surgery
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    • v.32 no.1
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    • pp.1-4
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    • 1999
  • Background: The transplantation of organs between phylogenetically disparate or harmonious species has invariably failed due to the occurrence of hyperacute rejection or accerelated acute rejection. But, concordant cardiac xenograft offer us an opportunity to study xenotransplantation in the absence of hyperacute rejection. Current therapeutics for the prolongation of survival of rodent concordant xenotransplantation are not ideal with many regimens having a high mortality rate. Cyclosporine A & Mycophenolate Mofetil are new immunosuppresive agent which has been shown to be effective at prolonging survival of allograft, as purine synthesis inhibitor. Material and Method: We used white mongrel rats as recipient and mice as donor, divided 4 groups(n=6), control group(Group 1) has no medication or pretreatment, Group 2 has splenectomy as pretreatment 7∼10 days before transplantation, Group 3 has Cyclosporine A treatment group, Group 4 has combined treatment of Cyclosporine A & Mycophenolate Mofetil(RS 61443). We compared survival time. Reuslt: We can't find significant difference of survival time between each groups. Conclusion: We concluded that rejection of cardiac xenograft was different from rejection of allograft, and new immunossuppresive Agent(Mycophenolate Mofetil, Cyclosporine A) was not effective for prolongation of survival time after cardiac xenograft.

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Isolation and Characterization of Starch-hydrolyzing Pseudoalteromonas sp. A-3 from the Coastal Sea Water of Daecheon, Republic of Korea (대한민국 대천 해안에서 분리한 전분 분해능을 갖는 Pseudoalteromonas sp. A-3 균주의 특징 및 동정)

  • Chi, Won-Jae;Park, Da-Yeon;Jeong, Sung-Cheol;Chang, Yong-Keun;Hong, Soon-Kwang
    • Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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    • v.39 no.4
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    • pp.317-323
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    • 2011
  • Strain A-3, an amylase-producing bacteria, was isolated from coastal seawater near Daecheon in the Republic of Korea. It was seen to possess a single polar flagella and grow well, on ASW-YP agar plates, at temperatures of between $20-37^{\circ}C$. However, it grew more slowly at the temperatures of $15^{\circ}C$ and $40^{\circ}C$. Similarly, it was observed to grow abundantly, in an Artificial Sea Water-Yeast extract-Peptone (ASW-YP) liquid medium, in a pH range of 6-9, but not grow at pHs of 4-5 and a pH of 10. Strain A-3 was noted as being close to Pseudoalteromonas phenolica O-$BC30^T$, Pseudoalteromonas luteoviolacea $NCIMB1893^T$, Pseudoalteromonas rubra $ATCC29570^T$, and Pseudoalteromonas byunsanensis $FR1199^T$, with 98.30%, 97.86%, 97.78%, and 97.25% similarities respectively, in its 16S rRNA sequence. A phylogenetic tree revealed that strain A-3 and P. phenolica O-$BC30^T$ belong to a clade. However, strain A-3 differed from P. phenolica O-$BC30^T$ in relation to a number of physiological characteristics. Strain A-3 exhibited no growth above 5% NaCl concentrations, no utilization of D-glucose, D-mannose, D-maltose, or D-melibose, and no lipase (C-14) activity. All of these properties strongly indicate that strain A-3 is distant from P. phenolica O-$BC30^T$ and thus led us to name it Pseudoalteromonas sp. A-3. Pseudoalteromonas sp. A-3 produces ${\alpha}$-amylase throughout growth. Maximal amylase activities of 144.48 U/mL and 149.20 U/mL were seen at pH 7.0 and $37^{\circ}C$, respectively. Pseudoalteromonas sp. A-3's high, stable production of ${\alpha}$-amylase in addition to its biochemical features, such as alkalitolerance, suggest that it is a good candidate for industrial applications.

The current child and adolescent health screening system: an assessment and proposal for an early and periodic check-up program (현행 영유아 및 소아청소년 건강검진제도의 평가 및 대안)

  • Eun, Baik-Lin;Moon, Jin Soo;Eun, So-Hee;Lee, Hea Kyoung;Shin, Son Moon;Seong, In Kyung;Chung, Hee Jung
    • Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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    • v.53 no.3
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    • pp.300-306
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    • 2010
  • Purpose : Recent changes in the population structure of Korea, such as rapid decline in birth rate and exponential increase in old-aged people, prompted us to prepare a new health improvement program in children and adolescents. Methods : We reviewed current health screenings applied for children and adolescents in Korea and other developed countries. We collected and reviewed population-based data focused on mortality and morbidity, and other health-related statistical data. We generated problem lists in current systems and developed new principles. Results : Current health screening programs for children and adolescents were usually based on laboratory tests, such as blood tests, urinalysis, and radiologic tests. Almost all of these programs lacked evidence based on population data or controlled studies. In most developed countries, laboratory tests are used only very selectively, and they usually focus on primary prevention of diseases and health improvement using anticipatory guidance. In Korea, statistics on mortality and morbidity reveal that diseases related to lifestyle, such as obesity and metabolic syndrome, are increasing in all generations. Conclusion : We recommend a periodic health screening program with anticipatory guidance, which is focused on growth and developmental surveillance in infants and children. We no longer recommend old programs that are based on laboratory and radiologic examinations. School health screening programs should also be changed to meet current health issues, such as developing a healthier lifestyle to minimize risk behaviors—or example, good mental health, balanced nutrition, and more exercise.

Validation of Korean Diagnostic Scale of Multiple Intelligence (한국형 다중지능 진단도구의 타당화)

  • Moon, Yong-Lin;Yu, Gyeong-Jae
    • (The) Korean Journal of Educational Psychology
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    • v.23 no.3
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    • pp.645-663
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    • 2009
  • The purpose of this study is to develop and verify a Korean Diagnostic Scale of Multiple Intelligence(MI), which will be an alternative test to avoid problems with former Shearer's MI test and to adopt H. Gardner's suggestions to develop MI assessment. The test is developed 5 types; kindergartner, elementary lower grader, elementary upper grader, middle schooler, high schooler test. A form of test is diversified with 3 types; multiple-choice items for accomplishment, true or false items for ability, and self-reported items with likert scale for interest and ability. According to H. Gardner's suggestions, we have tried to reanalyze key component of MI, analyze an overlapping or hierarchical relationship between intelligences, develop intelligences-fair items, diversify form of item. We have developed a final standardized test through a primary, secondary preliminary-test analysis, and sampled 5,585 students by age, gender, and regional groups. As a result of this sampling test, we can get a norm score and compare individuals with other's score relatively. To verify this test, we analyzed behavior observation, mean, standard deviation, a percentage of correct answers, reliability of each test type, correlation between intelligence scales, Kruskal-Wallis test of mean rank of career choice by intelligences. As a result of correlation analysis between sub-intelligence scales, we can conclude that this MI test is satisfied with intelligence independent assumption. Besides, as non-parametric statistics test(Kruskal-Wallis) of career choice by intelligences, we can identify that MI is related with domain of career choice. This test is not a linguistic and logical-mathematical biased test but a intelligences-fair test. It makes us compare individual's potential with a norm score. Besides, it could be useful as a means of educational prescription or counsel in comparison with ability, interest, and accomplishment of individual. But this test is limited to do factor or correlation analysis between types of sub-test, because items are minimized for a time-constraint and a heavy burden of test receiver. But if it could be tested with increased items by two sessions, further research could be expected to get over this constraints and do a further validation analysis.