• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.18-26
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• 2020

Echinosophora koreensis (Nakai) Nakai an endemic plant with limited distribution in some parts of the Korean Peninsula, is designated as "Endangered" species on the IUCN Red List. The species is under the threat of deterioration in nature due to various environmental changes causing loss of natural habitats. We investigated the distribution pattern and population structure of E. koreensis to serve as a basic reference for identifying the dynamics and persistence of natural populations of this species in the future. To determine the characteristics of the E. koreensis population, we laid two to three large plots sized 20m×30m on the ridgeline as the reference in Yanggu, Chuncheon, and Hongcheon and laid four to seven small quadrats sized 1m×1m on the transect. A total of 530 plots were laid, 10 each at 2m interval, to measure the number of the stems, the number of fruiting, height, and other factors. The collected distribution information was compared with the existing IUCN assessed categories by applying IUCN Red List ver 3.1 Criteria B. The average population density of the three surveyed areas was 3.47 stem/㎡; the density of each area was 3.95 stems/㎡ in Yanggu, 3.37 stems/㎡ in Chuncheon, and 2.87 stems/㎡ in Hongcheon. The number of fruiting per stem was 0.0038, indicating only 7 fruits out of 1,837 stems and that vegetative reproduction is likely to be more dominant than sexual reproduction. The distribution tendency of population density in the small plots in three surveyed areas showed that the density of E. koreensis tended to decrease toward the center of the forest with low crown openness and around the mountain ridge with high crown openness. It indicated that the quantity of light could be a very important factor for the growth of individuals of this species. The analysis of the heights of individuals present in the surveyed plots showed a range of 2.3 ~ 68.5cm and an average of 20.1cm. An analysis on the stage-structure of the E. koreensis population based on the sieve height found that the appearance frequency decreased with increasing height above 15 ~ 20cm and that the percentage of individuals lower than 10cm, which were presumed to be seedlings, was severely low, indicating a necessity of study on the population sustainability based on the monitored data. The occupied area calculated with the collected species distribution information was 200㎢, indicating the EN category according to the IUCN Red List Reference B.

• Journal of Animal Environmental Science
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.89-96
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• 2007

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of parity and postpartum day on the behavior of nursing sows and their suckling piglets. Total 36 Landrace or Yorkshire sows(range of parity: 1 to 8) and their litters(range of litter size: 11 to 13 piglets) were assigned with sow's parity($1{\sim}2,\;3{\sim}4$ and 5 or more) and sow's postpartum days(day 1, 7, 14 and 21). The sows were housed in farrowing crates($0.6{\times}2.1m$) located in pens($2.4{\times}1.8m$) with totally perforated flooring. The sows and piglets were conventionally managed. The sows and their piglets behaviors were recorded during the 24 hour period at 1, 7, 14 and 21 days of postpartum. The obtained results from this study were as follows; 1. All the nursing sows in both group made attempts for lateral tying more than for other behaviors for whole days. The order of behavioral frequency at 1 and 3 weeks postpartum according the days of postpartum of sows was lateral tying, ventral lying, standing, sitting, feeding and drinking. The nursing sows at day 1 postpartum spent more time on sitting and standing than the sows at day 7 or more postpartum. 2. The parity of sows did not affected the lateral tying and sitting behavior of nursing sows, however the ventral tying are lowed in $1{\sim}2$ parity of sow group than the other parity group. Standing, feeding and drinking behavior of sows was not showed at any trends according to the sow's parity. 3. In the behaviors of suckling piglets, lying was increased and unsuccessful suckling was decreased until 21 days postpartum. Compared to the 7, 14 and 21 day postpartum, piglets at the 1 day postpartum spent less time for lying and walking, whereas they spent much more time for unsuccessful suckling. 4. According th the sow's parity, their piglets tying and unsuccessful suckling was lowed in $1{\sim}2$ parity sow group, however more than 3 parity sow's piglets behavior are not affected.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.33 no.9
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• pp.1501-1514
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• 2004

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the health condition and nutritional status in female university students in Masan. The 285 subjects aged 20.1 years (18~26 years) were assessed with a set of questionnaire composed of general information, food, smoking, drinking and exercise habits, anthropometric measurements, blood pressure measurements, 24-hour recall and food frequency questionnaire. The rates of smoking and alcohol drinking habits were 1.8% and 82.5%, respectively. All the subjects had the experience of passive smoking. The 11% of the students exercised regularly and 11.6% ate meal regularly. The average height and weight of subjects were 161.0 ㎝ and 53.9 ㎏, respectively and the BMI was calculated as 20.8${\pm}$2.6 ㎏/$m^2$:The 13.3% of subjects were underweight, while 6.7% of them were overweight. The mean value for body fat was 26.4% and subscapular and tricep skinfolds thickness were 14.2 ㎜ and 16.9 ㎜, and waist-hip ratio was 0.72. The systolic/diastolic blood pressure of the subjects was 115.9 ㎜Hg/70.9 ㎜Hg. Except protein, phosphorous, vitamin E, B_6 and C, the average intakes of energy and nutrients were below the Korea recom-mended dietary allowance (RDA). Especially, intakes of calcium, iron and zinc were the lowest, as <70% of RDA. The proportion of energy derived from carbohydrates : protein : fat was 58.0 : 15.8 : 26.2. The 10 frequently consumed food were ssalbap (47.2/mon), kimchi (35.6/mon), onion (16.8/mon), japgokbap (15.1/mon), sesame oil (14.1/mon), carbonated drink (13.3/mon), grapes (12.7/mon), ice cream (12.4/mon), milk (11.9/mon) and water-melon (10.6/mon). Results of this study could be useful for planning nutrition education programs for female university students in this area to improve their dietary habit and health status.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.39 no.6
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• pp.473-480
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• 2005

Purpose: Adenosine myocardial perfusion SPECT has proven to be useful in the detection of coronary artery disease, in the follow up the success of various therapeutic regimens and in assessing the prognosis of coronary artery disease. The purpose of this study is to define the reproducibility of myocardial perfusion SPECT using adenosine stress testing between two consecutive Tc-99m sestaMIBI (MIBI) SPECT studies in the same subjects. Methods: Thirty patients suspected of coronary artery disease in stable condition underwent sequential Tc-99m MIBI SPECT studies using intravenous adenosine. Gamma camera, acquisition and processing protocols used for the two tests were identical and no invasive procedures were performed between two tests. Mean interval between two tests were 4.1 days (range: 2-11 days). The left ventricular wall was divided into na segments and the degree of myocardial tracer uptake was graded with four-point scoring system by visual analysis. Images were interpretated by two independent nuclear medicine physicians and consensus was taken for final decision, if segmental score was not agreeable. Results: Hemodynamic responses to adenosine were not different between two consecutive studies. There were no serious side effects to stop infusion of adenosine and side effects profile was not different. When myocardial uptake was divided into normal and abnormal uptake, 481 of 540 segments were concordant (agreement rate 89%, Kappa index 0.74). With four-grade storing system, exact agreement was 81.3% (439 of 540 segments, tau b=0.73). One and two-grade differences were observed in 97 segments (18%) and 4 segments (0.7%) respectively, but three-grade difference was not observed in any segment. Extent and severity scores were not different between two studios. The extent and severity scores of the perfusion defect revealed excellent positive correlation between two test (r value for percentage extent and severity score is 0.982 and 0.965, p<0.001) Conclusion: Hemodynamic responses and side effects profile were not different between two consecutive adenosine stress tests in the same subjects. Adenosine Tc-99m sestaMIBI SPECT is highly reproducible, and could be used to assess temporal changes in myocardial perfusion in individual patients.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.82-92
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• 2007

In 2003, we evaluated biological water quality at twelve sites of Youngsan River using community analysis, fish compositions, and the Index of Biological Integrity (IBI). Of the twelve, four sites were the controls, which have no point sources in the upstream and the remaining eight sites were the impacted sites, which are influenced by wastewater treatment plant (WTP) and agro-industrial complex. Model values of the IBI, based on 12 sites data, averaged 28 (n=12, range: $18{\sim}44$), indicating fair poor condition according to the criteria of US EP A (1993). In the mean time, mean IBI in the control sites (S3, S5, S6, S11) was 42 (n=4, range: $38{\sim}44$), indicating a good condition, whereas mean IBI in the impacted sites was 21, indicating a poor condition. Mean IBI value in the control, thus, was greater by 2 fold than that in the WTP sites. The spatial pattern of IBI values was similar to the patterns of species diversity index and species richness index, except for Site 11, which was 1st order stream. Similarity analysis indicated that three groups were divided at the similarity level of 80%. One group was the streams influenced by wastewater and the other two groups were the pristine streams as the control, indicating that the stream health conditions are directly influenced by presence or absence of the point sources. Also, Pearson's correlation analysis showed that IBI values had negative correlation (r=0.899, p<0.001) with relative abundance of tolerance species, and had positive relation (r=0.890, p<0.001) with sensitive species. Overall, outcomes suggest that the point sources of the WTP might impact the species composition and ecological health, resulting in degradation of biological water quality.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.55-63
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• 2009

Purpose: This study was performed to objectively evaluate the rate of tumor response to hypofractionated radiotherapy for advanced squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck. Materials and Methods: Thirty-one patients with advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck, who were treated by hypofractionated radiotherapy with 3 Gy per fraction for palliative purpose between 1998 and 2008, were reviewed retrospectively. Every tumor-volume was measured and evaluated from CT (computed tomography) images obtained before and 2~3 months after radiotherapy. The radiation toxicity was assessed during and after radiotherapy. A statistical analysis was performed to investigate overall survival, progressionfree survival, and the prognostic factors for survival and response. Results: The median age of the study patients was 70 years. In addition, 85% of the patients were in stage 4 cancer and 66.7% had an ECOG performance status of 1~2. The mean tumor-volume was 128.4 cc. Radiotherapy was administered with a total dose of 24~45 Gy (median: 36 Gy) over 10~25 days. Twenty-nine patients were treated with 30 Gy or more. The observed complete response rate was 12.9% and the partial response rate was 61.3%. Median survival time was 8.9 months and the 1-year progression-free survival rate was 12.9%. The treatment response rate was confirmed as a prognostic factor in the rate of survival. The primary site, stage, tumor-volume, radiotherapy field and overall radiation-dose showed a significant relationship with survival and treatment response. No grade 4 toxicity was observed during and after radiotherapy. Conclusion: There was an objective tumor-regression in about 74% of patients treated by hypofractionated radiotherapy. Further evaluation is needed to select the appropriate fraction-size and patient who may require the additional radiotherapy.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.38 no.10 s.255
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• pp.669-674
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• 2005

Background: There are several studies that report the relationship between leukocytosis and cardiovascular disease mortality. Most of these studies stand on the basis that atherosclerosis is mediated by inflammatory process. By the same token, preoperative white blood cell count is suggested as an independent predictable factor of postoperative mortality and morbidity in coronary artery bypass grafting. The purpose of this study is to define the influence of preoperative white blood cell count on postoperative morbidity and mortality after coronary artery bypass grafting. Material and Method: The medical records of the 133 patients who had undergone isolated coronary artery bypass grafting at Inha University Hospital from 1996 to 2003 were reviewed. Patients were evenly divided into four groups, and named as group A, B, C, and D respectively based on their preoperative white blood cell count in ascending order. The number of patients in each group were 33 with exception of 34 in group A. The range of white blood cell count were from $1.3\times10^3/{\mu}L\;to\;5.9\times10^3/{\mu}L\;in\;group\;A,\; from\;6.0\times10^3/{\mu}L\;to\;7.0\times10^3/{\mu}L\;in\;group\;B,\;from\;7.1\times10^3/{\mu}L\;to\;8.9\times10^3/{\mu}L$ in group C, and from $8.9\times10^3/{\mu}L\;to\;16.9\times10^3/{\mu}L$ in group D. Result: The number of patients with recent myocardial infarction was 0 in group A, $2(6.1\%)$ in group B, $4(12.1\%)$ in group C, and $8(24.3\%)$ in D group, showing proportional increase to the white blood cell count (p<0.01). There were six postoperative deaths; $1(2.9\%)$ in group A, $1(3.0\%)$ in group B, $2(2.6\%)$ in group C, and $2(6.1\%)$ in group D (p=0.44), showing no significant difference between the groups. Postoperative wound infection occurred in 3 patients; all 3 patients were in group D, showing that postoperative wound infection is closely related to the preoperative white blood cell count. Conclusion: The association between preoperative white blood cell count and postoperative mortality could not be defined. The incidence of postoperative wound infection was found to be proportional to the preoperative white blood cell counts.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.131-141
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• 2001

Purpose: We evaluated the sensitivity of the F-18 FDG PET by visual assessment and statistical parametric mapping (SPM) analysis for the localization of the epileptogenic zones in frontal lobe epilepsy. Materials and Methods: Twenty-four patients with frontal lobe epilepsy were examined. All patients exhibited improvements after surgical resection (Engel class I or II). Upon pathological examination, 18 patients revealed cortical dysplasia, 4 patients revealed tumor, and 2 patients revealed cortical scar. The hypometabolic lesions were found in F-18 FDG PET by visual assessment and SPM analysis. On SPM analysis, cutoff threshold was changed. Results: MRI showed structural lesions in 12 patients and normal results in the remaining 12. F-18 FDG PET correctly localized epileptogenic zones in 13 patients (54%) by visual assessment. Sensitivity of F-18 FDG PET in MR-negative patients (50%) was similar to that in MR-positive patients (67%). On SPM analysis, sensitivity decreased according to the decrease of p value. Using uncorrected p value of 0.05 as threshold, sensitivity of SPM analysis was 53%, which was not statistically different from that of visual assessment. Conclusion: F-18 FDG PET was sensitive in finding epileptogenic zones by revealing hypometabolic areas even in MR-negative patients with frontal lobe epilepsy as well as in MR-positive patients. SPM analysis showed comparable sensitivity to visual assessment and could be used as an aid in the diagnosis of epileptogenic zones in frontal lobe epilepsy.

• Journal of the Korean Arthroscopy Society
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.22-26
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• 2001

Purpose : To confirm the efficacy of arthroscopic synovectomy fur the pigmented villonodular synovitis in the knee. Materials and Methods : Between October 1996 and February 2000, the arthroscopic synovectomy had been performed in six patients(six knee joints), whose diagnoses were confirmed by pathologist. All patients complained of painful swelling in involved knee and four of the six patients had trauma history. There were three male and three female patients. Average age was 35.8 years ranging from 16 to 67 years. Follow up period was average 22.7 months(range, $13\~53$ months). Results : According to arthroscopic findings, there were three localized forms and three diffuse forms. At their last follow-up examinations, all patients had improvement in pain, swelling and range of motion and there was no evidence of recurrence. Conclusion : Complete arthroscopic excision is the definitive treatment for localized pigmented villonodular synovitis and meticulous arthroscopic excision through all portals including posterior portal can be considered as a valid alternative to traditional open synovectomy for the patients with diffuse pigmented villonodular synovitis.

• Journal of KIISE:Computer Systems and Theory
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.157-165
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• 2006

The change of external/internal factors of the cell rquires specific biological functions to maintain life. Such functions encourage particular genes to jnteract/regulate each other in multiple ways. Accordingly, we applied a linear decomposition model IFSA, which derives hidden variables, called the 'expression mode' that corresponds to the functions. To interpret gene interaction/regulation, we used a cross-correlation method given an expression mode. Linear decomposition models such as principal component analysis (PCA) and independent component analysis (ICA) were shown to be useful in analyzing high dimensional DNA microarray data, compared to clustering methods. These methods assume that gene expression is controlled by a linear combination of uncorrelated/indepdendent latent variables. However these methods have some difficulty in grouping similar patterns which are slightly time-delayed or asymmetric since only exactly matched Patterns are considered. In order to overcome this, we employ the (IFSA) method of [1] to locate phase- and shut-invariant features. Membership scoring functions play an important role to classify genes since linear decomposition models basically aim at data reduction not but at grouping data. We address a new function essential to the IFSA method. In this paper we stress that IFSA is useful in grouping functionally-related genes in the presence of time-shift and expression phase variance. Ultimately, we propose a new approach to investigate the multiple interaction information of genes.