• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.60 no.5
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• pp.540-547
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• 2006

Background : Vital stability and right side heart failure are major prognostic factors of acute pulmonary thromboembolism. While it is important to recognize right side heart failure, it is often difficult in real practice. Recently, several studies have described early diagnostic tools for detecting right side heart failure including echocardiography and biochemical markers. This study, we evaluated the prognostic role of the B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) in an acute pulmonary thromboembolism. Methods : Thirty-four patients with a diagnosis of acute pulmonary thromboembolism were enrolled in the study. The BNP levels were measured and echocardiography was performed at the Emergency Department. Data on the prognostic factors including ventilatory support, vital stability, pulmonary artery pressure, degree of tricuspid valve regurgitation, complications and death was collected from the patients' medical records. The patients with an acute pulmonary thromboembolism were divided into two groups based on the vital stability and the BNP level and the cutoff values and prognostic factors of the two groups were compared. Results : The predictors of the vital stability that influence the prognosis of patients with acute pulmonary thromboembolism were the BNP level, ventilatory support and death. The plasma BNP levels showed a strong correlation with the vital stability, ventilatory support, thrombolytic therapy and death. When the BNP cutoff level was set to 377.5 pg/dl in a ROC curve, the sensitivity and the specificity for differentiating between the groups with stable or unstable vital signs was 100% and 90%, respectively. Conclusion : This study indicates that a measurement of the plasma BNP levels may be a useful prognostic marker in patients with an acute pulmonary thrombo-embolism.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.311-323
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• 2007

The Yellow and East China seas received a vast amount of sediment $(>10^9ton/yr)$, which comes mainly from the Changjiang and Huanghe rivers of China and the Korean rivers. However, there are still no direct sedimentological-geochemical indicators, which can distinguish these two end-members (Korean and Chinese river sources) in these seas. The purpose of this study is to provide the potential geochemical-tracers enabling these river materials to be identified within the sediment load of the Yellow and East China seas. The compositions of major elements (Al, Fe, Mg, K, Ca, Na, and Ti) of Chinese and Korean river sediments were analyzed. To minimize the grain-size effect, furthermore, bulk sediments were separated into two groups, silt $(60-20{\mu}m)$ and clay $(<20{\mu}m)$ fractions, and samples of each fraction were analyzed for major and strontium isotope $(^{87}Sr/^{86}Sr)$ compositions. In this study, Fe/Al and Mg/Al ratios in bulk sediment samples, using a new Al-normalization procedure, are suggested as an excellent tool for distinguishing the source of sediments in the Yellow and East China seas. This result is clearly supported by the concentrations of these elements in silt and clay fraction samples. In silt fraction samples, Korean river sediments have much higher $^{87}Sr/^{86}Sr$ ratio $(0.7229{\sim}0.7253)$ than Chinese river sediments $(0.7169{\sim}0.7189)$, which suggests the distribution pattern of $^{87}Sr/^{86}Sr$ ratios as a new tracer to discriminate the provenance of shelf sediments in the Yellow and East China seas. On the basis of these geochemical tracers, clay fractions of southeastern Yellow Sea mud (SEYSM) patch may be a mixture of two sediments originated from Korea and China. In contrast, the geochemical compositions of silt fractions are very close to that of Korea river sediments, which indicates that the silty sediments of SEYSM are mainly originated from Korean rivers.

• The korean journal of orthodontics
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• v.30 no.2 s.79
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• pp.197-204
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• 2000

[$K^+$]-selective ion channels were studied in excised inside-out membrane patches from human osteoblast-like cells (G292). Three classes of $K^+$channels were present and could be distinguished on the basis of conductance. Conductances were $270\pm27\;pS,\;113\pm12\;pS,\;48\pm8\;pS$ according to their approximate conductances in symmetrical 140 mM KCl saline at holding potential of -80 mV It was found that the small conductance (48 pS) $K^+$channel activation was dependent on membrane voltage. In current-voltage relationship, small conductance $K^+$channel showed outward rectification, and it was activated by the positive potential inside the membrane. In recordings, single channel currents were activayed by a negative pressure outside the membrane. The membrane pressure increased $P_{open}$ of the $K^+$ channel in a pressure-dependent manner. In the excised-patch clamp recordings, G292 osteoblast-like cells have been shown to contain three types of $K^+$ channels. Only the small conductance (48 pS) $K^+$channel is sensitive to the membrane stretch. These findings suggest that a hyperpolarizing current, mediated in part by this channel, may be associated with early events during the mechanical loading of the osteoblast. In G292 osteoblast-like cells, $K^+$channel is sensitive to membrane tension, and may represent a unique adaptation of the bone cell membrane to mechanical stress.

• Neonatal Medicine
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.248-256
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• 2011

Purpose: Intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) is the term used to designate a fetus that has not reached its growth potential. However it is difficult to make a distinction between infants who are constitutionally small and growth restricted small. In the present study, we focused on the clinical characteristics and the hematologic value in small for gestational age (SGA) infants and discussed how to distinguish intrauterine growth restricted infants from constitutionally small infants. Methods: SGA infants that did not have any other risk factors for IUGR in the medical record except maternal hypertension (HTN) and diabetes mellitus (DM) and born at the Seoul St Mary's Hospital and Yeouido St Mary`s Hospital from January 2007 to July 2010 were included. The frequency of IUGR is higher in the pregnancy with medical problem, and in preterm infants. Therefore, the data was categorized by maternal disease and gestational age. We assessed the clinical data and the hematologic value. Results: The leukocyte count and the platelet count were lower in the SGA with maternal HTN group and the preterm SGA group. There was no difference in the clinical data and the prognosis resulted from maternal HTN and maternal DM. However, the hematologic difference was not found in the categorization of the preterm SGA group as maternal diasease. Conclusion: The results of this study showed that it is possible the low leukocyte count and the low platelet count are the characteristic hematologic features in growth restricted small for gestational age infants.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.201-213
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• 2007

In this study, the Batter Assessment Science Integrating point and Nonpoint Sources (BASINS 3.0)/window interface to Hydrological Simulation Program-FPRTRAN (WinHSPF) was applied for assessment of Soyang Dam watershed. WinHSPF calibration was performed using monitoring data from 2000 to 2004 to simulate stream flow. Water quality (water temperature, DO, BOD, nitrate, total organic nitrogen, total nitrogen, total organic phosphorus and total phosphorus) was calibrated. Calibration results for dry-days and wet-days simulation were reasonably matched with observed data in stream flow, temperature, DO, BOD and nutrient simulation. Some deviation in the model results were caused by the lack of measured watershed data, hydraulic structure data and meteorological data. It was found that most of pollutant loading was contributed by nonpoint source pollution showing about $98.6%{\sim}99.0%$. The WinHSPF BMPRAC was applied to evaluate the water quality improvement. These scenarios included constructed wetland for controlling nonpoint source poilution and wet detention pond. The results illustrated that reasonably reduced pollutant loadin. Overall, BASINS/WinHSPF was found to be applicable and can be a powerful tool in pollutant loading and BMP efficiency estimation from the watershed.

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.18 no.4 s.46
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• pp.277-288
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• 2005

Perlite, a hydrated volcanic glass, occurs mainly as a bed-like body, and is distributed intermittently along the unconformity surface between the Beomgockri Group and its lower formations, viz. Janggi Group. The perlite is intimately associated with surrounding pumiceous welded tuff and rhyodacites in space and time. Compared to the typical perlite, the perlite is rather silica-poor and impure, and thus, includes lots of phenocrysts and rock fragments. Nearly the perlite is compositionally rather close to a pitchstone than a perlite in water contents. Petrographic comparison between perlite and associated volcanic to volcaniclastic rocks indicates that pumiceous welded tuff and rhyodacite seem to be Protolith of the Perlite. A Zr/$TiO_{2}$-Nb/Y diagram and field occurrence of perlite and their protolithic rocks also conforms the above interpretation. Kn addition, remnant vesicles in perlite strongly reflect that the precursor of perlitic glass appeared to be pumice fragment as well as volcanic glass. The perlite was diagenetically formed by way of a pervasive water-rock interaction at the deposition of the Manghaesan Formation in lacustrine environment. During perlitization, $SiO_{2}$ and alkali tend to be consistently depleted. Preexisting system of the Beomgockri Group based on the perlite formation should be corrected, because the perlite was formed diagenetically without lateral persistence in its occurrence.

• Journal of Astronomy and Space Sciences
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.355-372
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• 2006

Mission opportunities and trajectory characteristics for the future Korean Mars mission have designed and analyzed using KSIV-III(Korea Space Launch Vehicle-III). Korea's first space center, 'NARO space center' is selected as a launch site. For launch opportunities, year 2033 is investigated under considering the date of space center's completion with KSLV series development status. Optimal magnitude of various maneuvers, Trans Mars Injection (TMI) maneuver, Trajectory Correction Maneuver (TCM), Mars Orbit Insertion (MOI) maneuver and Orbit Trim Maneuver(OTM), which are required during the every Mars mission phases are computed with the formulation of nonlinear optimization problems using NPSOL software. Finally, mass budgets for upper stage (launcher for KSIV-III and spacecraft are derived using various optimized maneuver magnitudes. For results, daily launch window from NARO space center for successful Korean Mars mission is avaliable for next 27 minutes starting from Apr. 16. 2033. 12:17:26 (UTC). Maximum spacecraft gross mass which can delivered to Mars is about 206kg, with propellant mass of 109kg and structure mass of 97kg, when on board spacecraft thruster's Isp is assumed to have 290 sec. For upper stage, having structure ratio of 0.15 and Isp value of 280 sec, gross mass is about 1293kg with propellant mass of 1099kg and structure mass of 194kg. However, including 10% margins to computed optimal maneuver values, spacecraft gross mass is reduced to about 148kg with upper stage's mass of 1352kg. This work will give various insights, requiring performances to developing of KSIV-III and spacecraft design for future Korean Mars missions.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.51 no.10
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• pp.1065-1070
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• 2008

Purpose : This study aims to determine whether early closure (within 7 d) of significant patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) with indomethacin or ligation reduces neonatal morbidity when compared with delayed closure (after 7 d). Methods : Fifty-eight extremely-low-birth-weight infants admitted to the NICU of Seoul National University Hospital from April 2005 to May 2007 with PDA were studied retrospectively. Results : The mean gestational age (GA) was $26{\pm}2weeks$ (range, 23-32 wk), and the birth weight was $782{\pm}146g$ (range, 430-990 g). The delayed closure group was associated with early GA ($25.7{\pm}1.7wk$ vs $27.1{\pm}2.0wk$, P=0.013), in vitro fertilization (IVF) (55% vs 24%, P=0.017), and the absence of preeclampsia (5% vs. 34%, P=0.013). There was no difference in ductal size between the early closure and delayed closure groups. The incidence of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (95% vs 65%, P=0.012) and intraventricular hemorrhage (70% vs. 39%, P=0.027) increased in the delayed closure group. Using regression analysis adjusted for gestational age, delayed closure correlated positively with the duration of ventilator support (P=0.008), hospitalization (P=0.020), time to full enteral feeding (P<0.001), and total parenteral nutrition (P=0.010). Conclusion : Delayed closure of the hemodynamically significant patent ductus arteriosus in extremely-low-birth-weight infants is significantly related to the development of various morbidities. Thus, early closure of PDA is needed within the first week of life.

• Neonatal Medicine
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.47-54
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• 2009

Purpose: Present evidences suggest that Ureaplasma urealyticum is a cause of pneumonia, septicemia, and bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) in newborn infants, particularly those born prematurely. The purpose of this work was to examine the relationship between Ureaplasma urealyticum in the tracheal aspirates and adverse outcomes, such as BPD and early onset neonatal sepsis in premature infants. Methods: A polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was performed on tracheal aspirates collected within 24 hour after birth in 176 premature infants less than 35 weeks of gestation and admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit of Bundang CHA Hospital. Results: U. urealyticum was detected in 37 of 176 preterm infants (21.0%). Gestational age ($29^{+5}{\pm}2^{+5}$ wk vs. $30^{+6}{\pm}2^+{-5}$ wk, P=0.0l3) and birth weight (1.39${\pm}$0.44 kg vs. 1.59${\pm}$0.55 kg, P=0.037) were lower in the U urealyticum-positive group compared to the control group. The incidence of early onset neonatal sepsis (16.2% vs. 6.5%, P=0.045) and BPD (45.9% vs. 29.5%, P=0.047) was higher in the U urealyticum-positive group compared to the control group, but the severity of BPD was not different between two groups. However, multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that the presence of U. urealyticum was not independently related to the development of early onset neonatal sepsis and BPD. Conclusion: The results suggest that colonization of the lower respiratory tract by U. urealyticum might not be related to the development of neonatal sepsis and BPD directly in preterm infants.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.55 no.5
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• pp.399-403
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• 2013

This study was conducted to investigate the basic concept of multiple trait effective daughter contribution (MTEDC) for dairy cattle sires and calculate effective daughter contribution (EDC) by applying a five lactation multiple trait model using milk yield test records of daughters for the Multiple-trait Across Country Evaluation (MACE). Milk yield data and pedigree information of 301,551 cows that were the progeny of 2,046 Korean and imported dairy bulls were collected from the National Agricultural Cooperative Federation and used in this study. For MTEDC approximation, the reliability of the breeding value was separated based on parents average, own yield deviation and mate adjusted progeny contribution. EDC was then calculated by lactation using these reliabilities. The average number of recorded daughters per sire by lactations were 140.57, 94.24, 55.14, 29.20 and 14.06 from the first to fifth lactation, respectively. However, the average EDC per sire by lactation using the five lactation multiple trait model was 113.49, 89.28, 73.56, 54.02 and 35.08 from the first to fifth lactation, respectively, while the decrease of EDC in late lactations was comparably lower than the average number of recorded daughters per sire. These findings indicate that the availability of daughters without late lactation records is increased by genetic correlation using the multiple trait model. Owing to the relatedness between the EDC and reliability of the estimated breeding value for sire, understanding the MTEDC algorithm and continuous monitoring of EDC is required for correct MACE application of the five lactation multiple trait model.