• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.27-34
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• 2004

Background: Infective endocarditis shows higher operative morbidity and mortality rates than other cardiac diseases. The vast majority of studies on infective endocarditis have been made on aortic endocarditis, with little attention having been paid to infective endocarditis on the mitral valve. This study attempts to investigate the clinical aspects and operative results of infective endocarditis on the mitral valve. Meterial and Method: The subjects of this study consist of 23 patients who underwent operations for infective endocariditis on the mitral valve from June 1995 to May 2003. Among them, 2 patients suffered from prosthetic valvular endocarditis and the other 21 from native valvular endocarditis. The subjects were evenly distributed age-wise with an average age of 44.8$\pm$15.7 (11∼66) years. Emergency operations were performed on seventeen patients (73.9%) due to large vegetation or instable hemodynamic status. In preoperative examinations, twelve patients exhibited congestive heart failure, four patients renal failure, two patients spleen and renal infarction, and two patients temporary neurological defects, while one patient had a brain abscess. Based on the NYHA functional classification, seven patients were determined to be at Grade II, 9 patients at Grade III, and 6 patients at Grade IV. Vegetations were detected in 20 patients while mitral regurgitation was dominant in 19 patients with 4 patients showing up as mitral stenosis dominant on the preoperative echocardiogram. Blood cultures for causative organisms were performed on all patients, and positive results were obtained from ten patients, with five cases of Streptococcus viridance, two cases of methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus, and one case each of Corynebacteriurn, Haemophillis, and Gernella. Operations were decided according to the AA/AHA guidelines (1988). The mean follow-up period was 27.6 $\pm$23.3 (1 ∼ 97) months. Result: Mitral valve replacements were performed on 43 patients, with mechanical valves being used on 9 patients and tissue valves on the other 4. Several kinds of mitral valve repair or mitral valvuloplasty were carried out on the remaining 10 patients. Associated procedures included six aortic valve replacements, two tricuspid annuloplasty, one modified Maze operation, and one direct closure of a ventricular septal defect. Postoperative complications included two cases of bleeding and one case each of mediastinitis, low cardiac output syndrome, and pneumonia. There were no cases of early deaths, or death within 30 days following the operation. No patient died in the hospital or experienced valve related complications. One patient, however, underwent mitral valvuloplasty 3 months after the operation. Another patient died from intra-cranial hemorrhage in the 31st month after the operation. Therefore, the valve-related death rate was 4.3%, and the valve-related complication rate 8.6% on mid-term follow-up. 1, 3-, and 5-year valve- related event free rates were 90.8%, 79.5%, and 79.5%, respectively, while 1, follow-up. 1, 3-, and 5-year valve- related event free rates were 90.8%, 79.5%, and 79.5%, respectively, while 1, 3-, and 5-year survival rates were 100%, 88.8%, and 88.8%, respectively. Conclusion: The findings suggest that a complete removal of infected tissues is essential in the operative treatment of infectious endocarditis of the mitral valve. It is also suggested that when infected tissues are completely removed, neither type of material nor method of operation has a significant effect on the operation result. The postoperative results also suggest the need for a close follow-up observation of the patients suspected of having brain damage, which is caused by preoperative blood contamination or emboli from vegetation, for a possible cerebral vascular injury such as mycotic aneurysm.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.12-24
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• 2008

Background: It is currently thought that tissue valve degeneration is related to an animal's immune response, which is mainly due to cell surface ${\alpha}$-Gal epitopes. Cell surface ${\alpha}$-Gal epitopes are known to be degraded by the enzyme called green coffee bean ${\alpha}$-Galactosidase. It is also well known that ${\alpha}$-Gal epitopes are immunologically stained by Griffonia Simplicifolia isolectin type B4. We know that many commercially available tissue valves are made of aortic valves and pericardial tissue of pig. So, we investigated whether ${\alpha}$-Gal epitopes of the aortic valve and pericardial tissue of a pig can be removed by green coffee bean ${\alpha}$-Galactosidase, and we did so by comparing immunologic staining of the tissues before and after the enzyme treatment. Material and method: After treating fresh porcine aortic valve and pericardial tissue with green coffee bean ${\alpha}$-Galactosidase at concentrations of 0.5 unit/mL, 1.0 unit/mL, 2.0 unit/mL, respectively, under the condition of pH 6.5, temperature. $4^{\circ}C$ and 24 hours of incubation, each sample was stained with Griffonia Simplicifolia isolectin type B4 immunpfluorescent labeling. We then examined whether the ${\alpha}$-Gal epitopes were reduced or abolished in each consecutive. concentration of green coffee bean ${\alpha}$-Galactosidase by comparing the degree of the Griffonia Simplicifolia isolectin B4 staining in each sample. Result: In the pig aortic valve tissue, a 1.0 unit/mL concentration of green coffee bean ${\alpha}$-Galactosidase at pH 6.5, $4^{\circ}C$ and reaction for 24 hours was enough for complete removal of ${\alpha}$-Gal epitopes from the cell sur face on the immunostaining with Griffonia Simplicifolia isolectin B4. On the other hand, more ${\alpha}$-Gal epitopes were present in the pig pericardial tissue on Griffonia Simplicifolia isolectin B4 staining before the enzyme treatment, and 1.0 unit/mL of galactosidase was not sufficient for complete removal of ${\alpha}$-Gal from the tissue. 2.0 units/mL of green coffee bean ${\alpha}$-Galactosidase was needed to completely remove the ${\alpha}$-Gal epitopes from the pericardial tissue on immunostaining. Conclusion: The ${\alpha}$-Gal epitopes of the pig's aortic valve and pericardial tissue were successfully stained with Griffonia Simplicifolia isolectin B4. We could remove nearly all the ${\alpha}$-Gal epitopes using green coffee bean ${\alpha}$-Galactosidase at the concentration of 1.0 unit/mL in the aortic valve. Of pig, and 2.0 unit/mL was need to nearly completely remove all the ${\alpha}$-Gal epitopes in the pericardial tissue of pig under the condition of pH 6.5, $4^{\circ}C$ and 24 hours of reaction time. In the near future, removal of ${\alpha}$-Gal epitapes in the pig's aortic valve and pericardial tissue will become a powerful tool for the improvement of the tissue valve durability. It needs to be determined if ${\alpha}$-galactosidase treated pig tissue is immune to human anti-Gal antibody or anit-Gal mooclonal antibodies.

• Journal of Energy Engineering
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.139-144
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• 2008

Recently due to march as the high oil price, It is necessary for Korea to grope a plan, which is to increase the energy efficiency of existing facilities as well as to develop overseas gas and oil resources. With this point, this work carried out to approach the high pressure LNG pipeline network of Inchon receiving terminal with Newton method as corrective flowrate. We found that the high pressure network mainly depends on FCVs(Flow Control Valves). The high pressure pump showed the maximum efficiency at the FCVs of 50% opening and could discharge LNG only above the LNG head of 1,500m from a system curve obtained. The operating cost of pumps was estimated from their operating points. We compared the operating cost under normal operation with the operating cost under maximum efficiency. Especially, we obtained the day savings of a year as wells as the hour savings of a day. From the results, the high pressure network win be able to reduce the operating cost of 138 million wons in a year. This means that a pump can reduce the operating cost of 9,823 thousands won. Consequently, this work could find the operating features of the pumps under the complicated high pressure LNG network and the savings effect of the pump operating cost. Also, the results will be able to macroscopically contribute the heightening of national energy competitiveness as well as to microscopically contribute the future effective operation of LNG receiving terminal.

• Journal of Energy Engineering
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.113-121
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• 2016

Polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell(PEMFC) requires cooling system to maintain the proper operating temperature(about $65^{\circ}C{\sim}75^{\circ}C$) because the efficiency and power are affected by operating temperature. In order to retain the operating temperature of PEMFC, cooling system and coolant control logic are needed. Hardware-in-the-loop simulation(HILS) is one of effective methods to study and evaluate control algorithm. In this paper, the HILS system was designed to study the coolant control algorithm. The models of HILS system consisted of PEMFC, heat exchanger, and external environment associated with temperature. The hardwares in HILS system are 3-way valves, pumps, and a heat exchanger. The priority control and the control target temperature were investigated to improve the control performance using HILS. The 3-way valve in $1^{st}$ cooling circuit was selected as priority control target. The under limit value of $2^{nd}$ 3-way valve set as a function of PEMFC power and $2^{nd}$ circuit coolant temperature to correct temperature control performance. As a result, the temperature of PEMFC is stably controlled.

• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.26-32
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• 2015

The histological structure of the heart in Pseudorasbora parva was investigated by light microscope. The heart consisted of four consecutive chambers, the sinus venosus, atrium, ventricle and bulbus arteriosus. The wall of the sinus venosus was divided into endocardium, myocardium and epicardium, and the walls of the atrium and ventricle were divided into endocardium, subendocardium, myocardium, subepicardium and epicardium, and the wall of the bulbus arteriosus was divided into endocardium, subendocardium (ridge tissue), middle layer, subepicardium and epicardium. The valves were observed in the sinoatrial, artrioventricular and bulboventricular junctions. The sinus venosus wall was mostly made up of collagen. The rings of tissue were observed at the sinoatrial junction. The atrium was composed of a spongy trabeculate myocardium surrounded by an external rim of thin myocardium, and collagens were distributed in the subepicardium and trabeculae. The ventricle was a spongy myocardium with vessels in subepicardium. In the subepicardium and trabeculae of the ventricle, collagens were distributed. In the bulbus arteriosus, the diameter and length of the ridges were differed. The endocardial cells were convex and the non-clustered subendocardial cells showed irregular shapes. The cells of the middle layer were arranged into incomplete layers that showed different orientations. The subepicardium was formed by cells of different morphology. Collagens and elastins were demonstrated in the subendocardium, middle layer and subepicardium of the bulbus arteriosus. The epicardium was a single layer composed of flattened cells.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.151-157
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• 2013

Purpose: Warfarin is the most widely used anticoagulant drug for preventing cardiovascular diseases after ischemic stroke and thromboembolism related to atrial fibrillation, artificial heart valves, deep vein thrombosis, and pulmonary embolism. Warfarin is commonly used in combination with other drugs such as diuretics in order to treat the comorbidity. Although several warfarin-diuretics interactions have been reported, the results are conflicting. Therefore, the initial aim of this study was to identify the effects of diuretics on the warfarin response in patients with atrial fibrillation. Methods: One hundred forty six patients with atrial fibrillation who were on anticoagulation therapy with warfarin and maintained INR levels of 2-3 for three consecutive times were followed up, retrospectively. Stable warfarin doses and INR per stable warfarin dose were compared according to age, gender, comorbidity, and concurrent medication. The stable warfarin dose was defined as the maintenance dose of warfarin of the measured patient whose INR was within the target INR range more than 3 times consecutively. Results: The differences of stable warfarin doses in patients with ($3.22{\pm}1.21$ mg/day) and without ($3.58{\pm}1.14$ mg/day) diuretics were marginally significant (P=0.069). On the other hand, stable warfarin doses were $2.97{\pm}1.10$ mg/day in patients with thiazide (n=36) and $3.58{\pm}1.14$ mg/day in patients without diuretics (n=82), which was statistically significant (p=0.009). INR values per stable warfarin dose in patients with diuretics and thiazide were $0.84{\pm}0.31$ and $0.90{\pm}0.34$, respectively, which were statistically different from those without diuretics ($0.72{\pm}0.21$, P=0.010 and P=0.006, respectively). Age, gender, and concurrent use of thiazide diuretics were found to have significant influence on the warfarin response from multivariate analysis. Conclusion: Our study showed that the concurrent use of thiazide diuretics could increase the response of warfarin in patient with atrial fibrillation. Therefore, clinicians should be aware that warfarin dose needs to be adjusted when it is used with thiazide diuretics concomitantly.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Gas
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.70-75
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• 2017

This paper presents the FEM analysis results on the deformation behavior safety of automatic cut-off horizontal and conventional vertical gas valves. Based on the FEM analysis, the primary maximum deformation of $4.4{\mu}m$ was formed on the right end side of a valve body when the internal gas pressure was supplied on the screw port and gas discharge port of an automatic cut-off horizontal gas valve. And the secondary maximum deformation of $2.9{\mu}m$ was formed on the end side of safety valve port. This small deformation of an automatic cut-off horizontal gas valve is strongly related to the balanced design of a horizontal gas valve main body, which is composed of a screw part, gas outlet port, port for a stem and spindle shaft assembly, and safety valve port. But, the primary maximum deformation of 0.076mm was formed on the upper part of a conventional automatic cut-off vertical gas valve when the internal gas pressure was supplied on the screw port and gas discharge port. And the secondary maximum deformation of 0.055mm was formed on the left end side of a gas outlet port. This may effect on the sealing clearance of o-ring that is inserted on the groove of an automatic cut-off unit. Thus, this paper recommends an automatic cut-off horizontal gas valve compared with that of a conventional gas valve for a gas leakage free mechanism of a LPG cylinder valve.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.85-94
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• 1998

Due to relatively high permittivity of water in soils, we placed the soil condenser into soils to measure the soil moisture content. The soil condenser was made with two insulated iron sticks. The capacitance of the soil condenser was determined by the pulse period from RC type oscillation circuit and the highest voltage output accepting 10MHz pulse. After zero point adjustment, the measured relative capacitance percentage (RCS) to the standard condenser obtained by the oscillation circuit almost linearly correlated with the end depth of the sensor submerged in water. The RC type oscillation was disturbed by many sensor installed in a close distance in one place, presumably resulting in that the sensor sticks played as a interfering antennas generating or accepting electron waves from them. The temperature dependance of the output from the sensors could be corrected through experimentally determined revision function. Although lineal correlation was found between soil moisture and RCS, users should derive their own correlation function for every sensor to measure soil moisture, because the outputs were influenced by the installation depth and layout in the soil. The voltage type sensor responded inversely with soil moisture content and so was not suitable to the accurate measurement of soil moisture, but allows high economic benefit in various application such as simplified measurement of soil moisture and irrigation line control because of its low component count. The voltage type moisture sensor could be reinforced by relay controlling circuit to open and to close the solenoid valves respectively at optimal limits of the least and the most soil moisture according to user's adjustment.

• Journal of the Korean Magnetics Society
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.129-133
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• 2010

Two-layered ferromagnetic alloy films (NiFe, CoFe) with a Conetic (NiFeCuMo) intermediately soft magnetic layer of different thickness were investigated to correlate the coercivity values and magnetization process with the strength of saturation field of hard axis. Thickness dependence of the $H_{EC}$ (coercivity of easy axis), $H_{HS}$ (saturation field of hard axis.), and X (susceptibility) of NiFe and NiFeCuMo thin films for the glass/Ta(5 nm)/[CoFe or NiFe(5 nm-t/2)]/NiFeCuMo(t = 0, 4, 6, 8, 10 nm)/[CoFe or NiFe(5 nm-t/2)]/Ta(5 nm) films prepared by the ion beam deposition method was measured. The magnetic properties $H_{EC}$, $H_{HS}$, and X of two-layered ferromagnetic CoFe, NiFe films with a NiFeCuMo intermediately super-soft magnetic layer were strongly depended on the thickness of NiFeCuMo layer. The value of the coercivity and magnetic susceptibility of the NiFeCuMo film decreased by 25% and doubled relative to that of the NiFe film.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural and Forest Meteorology
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.27-38
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• 2009

The multi-level profile system is designed to measure the vertical profile of $H_2O$ and $CO_2$ concentrations in the surface layer to estimate the storage effects within the plant canopy. It is suitable for long-term experiments and can be used also in advection studies for estimating the spatial variability and vertical gradients in concentration. It enables the user to calculate vertical fluxes of water vapor, $CO_2$ and other trace gases using the surface layer similarity theory and to infer their sources or sinks. The profile system described in this report includes the following components: sampling system, calibration and flow control system, closed path infrared gas analyzer(IRGA), vacuum pump and a datalogger. The sampling system draws air from 8 inlets into the IRGA in a sequence, so that for 80 seconds air from all levels is measured. The calibration system, controlled by the datalogger, compensates for any deviations in the calibration of the IRGA by using gas sources with known concentrations. The datalogger switches the corresponding valves, measures the linearized voltages from the IRGA, calculates the concentrations for each monitoring level, performs statistical analysis and stores the final data. All critical components are mounted in an environmental enclosure and can operate with little maintenance over long periods of time. This report, as a practical manual, is designed to provide helpful information for those who are interested in using profile system to measure evapotranspiration and net ecosystem exchanges in complex terrain.