• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.162-167
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• 2015

Although the perfomance indicators of the nuclear power plants in Korea show optimal, it requires detailed analysis and discussion centered on the radiation dose. As analysis methods, analysis on the radiation dose of nuclear power plants over the past five years was assessed by comparing the relevant radiation dose of radiation workers and per capita average annual radiation dose of the world's major nuclear power stations was also analyzed. The radiation workers over the annual radiation dose limit of 50 mSv were not. The contrast ratio of the radiation exposure according to the reactor type was the normal operation of PHWR was 6.2% higher than those of the PWR. This shows the radiation work of PHWR during normal driving operation is much more than those of PWR. According to the Performance Indicators of the World Association of Nuclear Operator, the annual radiation dose per unit in 2013 showed 527 man-mSv of Korea is the best country among the major nuclear power generating states, the world average was 725 man-mSv. The annual per capita radiation dose is about 80% less than 1 mSv of the public dose limit and also the average per capita dose showed a very low level as 0.82 mSv. Workers in related organizations showed 1.07 mSv, the non-destructive inspection agency workers showed 3.87 mSv. The remarkable results were due to radiation reduced program such as development of radiation shielding and radiation protection. In conclusion, the radiation exposured dose of nuclear power plants workers in Korea showed a trend which is ideally reduced. But more are expected to be difficul and the psychological insecurity against the operation of the nuclear power plants is existed to the residents near the nuclear power plants. So the radiation dose reduction policy and radiation dose follow up study of nuclear power plants will be continously excuted.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.39-46
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• 2009

This study investigated the beneficial effects of crude saponins from soybean cake on body weight and glucose tolerance in high-fat (37% calories from fat) diet fed C57BL/6 mice. The mice were supplemented with three doses of saponins (0.5%, 1.0%, and 1.5%, wt/wt) and 1.0% Garcinia cambogia (wt/wt), positive control for 9 weeks. The body weight, visceral fat weight and epididymal adipocyte area were significantly reduced in the saponin supplemented groups in a dose dependent manner compared to the high-fat group. Saponins did not significantly affect food intake; however, cambogia significantly lowered food intake compared to the high-fat fed control group. The crude saponins from soybean cake supplement significantly lowered plasma leptin, triglyceride and total cholesterol levels, whereas they significantly elevated the fecal excretion of triglyceide in a dose dependent manner compared to the high-fat group. Cambogia did not affect the fecal excretion of lipid in the diet-induced obese mice. Supplementation of 1.5% saponin reduced the hepatic triglyceride content compared to the high-fat group. High-fat induced glucose intolerance with the elevation of blood glucose levels compared to the normal group; however, the saponins supplement significantly improved postprandial glucose levels. After 9 weeks of being fed a high-fat diet, the mice presented with significantly increased activities of hepatic fatty acid synthase and fatty acid ${\beta}$-oxidation; however, saponins and cambogia normalized these activities. These results indicate that saponins from soybean cake exhibit a potential anti-obesity effect and may prevent glucose intolerance by reducing body weight and plasma lipids, increasing fecal lipid excretion and regulating hepatic lipid metabolism in high-fat fed mice.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.131-138
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• 2008

We evaluated on the calculation accuracy of treatment planning system (TPS) with phantom having convex and concave surface. The TPS is Eclipse (Varian, USA) using both algorithms AAA and PBC for photon dose calculations. PBC algorithms have three corrections of Batho, modified Batho (M-Batho), and equivalent TAR (E-TAR). The field sizes were $10{\times}10\;cm^2$ and $20{\times}20\;cm^2$, and MLC-shaped fields for these fields. We measured doses at three depths 5, 10 and 15cm in phantom of SSD=90cm in the condition of inserted farmer chamber. For given conditions, we have calculated dose with these algorithms and compared them with measured doses. In AAA the calculated doses (dose/MU) were agreed to measured doses within ${\pm}1%$ in flat and convex surface and were under estimated with -1.9% maximum in concave surface. In PBC the calculated doses were over estimated with +1.7% and +4.1% respectively in flat and convex surface and the differences were from -3.1% to +2.1% in concave surface. In comparison of criteria from AAPM and IAEA reports, and statistical analysis for these results, it is found that the AAA's results are in good agreement with measured values and the M-Batho's results are generally good agreed with measured values among PBC algorithms.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.15-22
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• 2014

The IMRT is proper implement to get high dose deliver to tumor as its shape and selective approach in radiation therapy. Since the IMRT is performed as modulated the radiation fluence by the MLC created the open shapes and its irradiation time, the dose of segment of radiation field effects on the cumulated portal dose. The accurate output factor of small and step shape of segment is important to improve the determination of deliver tumor dose as it is directly proportional to dose. This experiment performed with the 6 MV photon beam of Clinac Ex(Varian) from $3{\times}3cm^2$ to $0.5{\times}0.5cm^2$ small field size for collimator jaw in MLC free and/or for MLC open field in fixed collimator jaw $10{\times}10cm^2$ using the CC01 ion chamber, SFD diode, diamond detector and X-Omat film dosimetry. As results of normalized to the reference field of $10{\times}10cm^2$ of MLC, the output factor of $3{\times}3cm^2$ showed $0.899{\pm}0.0106$, $0.855{\pm}0.0106$ for $2{\times}2cm^2$, $0.764{\pm}0.0082$ for $1{\times}1cm^2$ and $0.602{\pm}0.0399$ for $0.5{\times}0.5cm^2$. The output factor of MLC open field has shown a maximum 3.8% higher than that of the collimator jaw open field.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.18 no.11
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• pp.1592-1599
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• 2008

The $\beta$-lactamase gene was cloned into E. coli DH5$\alpha$ from Bacillus sp. J105 with strong resistance against $\beta$-lactam antibiotics. The chromosomal DNA was partially digested with Sau3AI and ligated to BamHI digested pLAFR3. $\beta$-Lactamase positive clones were obtained by using in vitro packaging kit. The pKL11-${\Delta}4.6$ with $\beta$-lactamase activity was obtained by subcloning of the recombinant plasmid ($\beta$-lac +). The 6.5 kb fragment in the subcloned plasmid was sequenced. The DNA fragment that contains the $\beta$-lactamase gene encodes 309 amino acids. The 0.17 kb upstream region was similar to those of B. thuringinesis and B. cereus with 97% identity. The deduced amino acids sequence was also similar to those of $\beta$-lactamase from B. thuringinesis and B. cereus with 97% and 94% identity, respectively. The phylogenetic tree also showed the relationships of the $\beta$-lactamase gene of Bacillus sp. J105 to genetically related that of other Bacillus strains. Analysis of expression pattern of the pKL11-${\Delta}4.6$ in E. coli, revealed that the secretion efficiency of $\beta$-lactamase was $4{\sim}5%$ and the molecular weight was as same as that of original $\beta$-lactamase (31 kDa) from Bacillus sp. J105.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.298-305
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• 1993

In order to evaluate the clinical usefulness of maternal serum C-reactive protein measurement in early detection of infectious morbidity at term laboring women, serum C-reactive protein levels were measured in 521 healthy pregnant women ; 64 who were not in labor before term, 55 who were in labor before term, 71 who were not in labor at term and 331 who were in labor at term. The frequencies of elevated serum C-reactive protein level were compared in relation to the gestational weeks, the presence or absence of labor, the status of amniotic membranes and the degree of cervical dilation. The obtained results were as follows. 1. The frequencies of women with elevated serum C-reactive protein, 0.8mg/dl or higher and 2.0mg/dl or higher, in 521 health pregnant women were 12% and 4%, respectively. 2. C-reactive pretein levels of 0.8mg/dl or higher were more frequent in the group of women in labor than those not in labor(5.93%, vs. 13.73%, p<0.05), but the frequencies of C-reactive protein level of 2.0mg/dl or higher were not statistically different between both groups. The frequencies of C-reactive protein level of 0.8mg/dl or higher and 2.0mg/dl or higher were not statistically different between the groups before term and at term, intact and ruptured membranes, latent phase and active phase of labor, respectively. 3. Before term, C-reactive protein levels of 0.8mg/dl or higher and 2.0mg/dl or higher were more frequent in the group of women in labor than those not in labor(23.64 vs. 4.69, p<0.001 and 12.73% vs. 3.13%, p<0.05, respectively), but those statistical differences were not seen between both group at term. Above results and review of literature suggest that serum C-reactive protein level of 2.0mg/dl or higher may be reliable in early detection of infectious morbidity at term laboring women as well as laboring women before term, and the presence of subclinical infection should be suspected in the laboring women before term with serum C-reactive protein level of 0.8mg/dl or higher.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.111-117
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• 2007

This experiment was conducted to research the effects of Yellow Clay(YC) on the sensory evaluation of cooked meat in broiler chicks. A total of 216 one day old broiler chicks were divided into 6 groups at random. The six groups are consisted of one control group, to which no YC was added, and 5 groups to which an amount of YC was differently added. Diets contained 0.5, 1.0, 2.0, 4.0 and 8.0% of YC and fed to the 5 group broilers for 6 weeks. The lightness of meat in the broilers treated with YC was significantly higher than that of the control group in after-cooking(P<0.05). Besides, the lightness of meat was higher after-cooking than before-cooking. The properties of hardness, gumminess and chewiness were significantly lowered in the groups treated with Yellow Clay, as the amount of Yellow Clay increased at before-cooking and after-cooking(P<0.05). The turbidity of stock was higher in the groups treated with Yellow Clay as the percentage level of Yellow Clay increased, compared with the control group(P<0.05). The acceptability of color, flavor, and texture of meat and stock was higher in the groups treated with Yellow Clay, when compared with that of the control group(P<0.05). In total, the group treated with the 4 percentage of Yellow Clay was the highest in the overall preference(P<0.05).

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.232-237
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• 2010

The shielding materials designed for replacement of lead equivalent materials for lighter apron than that of lead in diagnostic photon beams. The absorption characteristics of elements were applied to investigate the lead free material for design the shielding materials through the 50 kVp to 110 kVp x-ray energy in interval of 20 kVp respectively. The idea focused to the effect of K-edge absorption of variable elements excluding the lead material for weight reduction. The designed shielding materials composited of Tin 34.1%, Antimon 33.8% and Iodine 26.8% and Polyisoprene 5.3% gram weight account for 84 percent of weight of lead equivalent of 0.5 mm thickness. The size of lead-free shielder was $200{\times}200{\times}1.5\;mm^3$ and $3.2\;g/cm^3$ of density which is equivalent to 0.42 mm of Pb. The lead equivalent of 0.5 mm thickness generally used for shielding apron of diagnostic X rays which is transmitted 0.1% for 50 kVp, 0.9% for 70 kVp and 3.2% for 90 kVp and 4.8% for 110 kVp in experimental measurements. The experiment of transmittance for lead-free shielder has showed 0.3% for 50 kVp, 0.6% for 70 kVp, 2.0% for 90 kVp and 4.2% for 110 kVp within ${\pm}0.1%$. respectively. Using the attenuation coefficient of experiments for 0.5 mm Pb equivalent of lead-free materials showed 0.1%. 0.3%, 1.0% and 2.4%, respectively. Furthermore, the transmittance of lead-free shielder for scatter rays has showed the 2.4% in operation energy of 50 kVp and 5.9% in energy of 110 kVp against 2.4% and 5.1% for standard lead thickness within ${\pm}0.2%$ discrepancy, respectively. In this experiment shows the designed lead-free shielder is very effective for reduction the apron weight in diagnostic radiation fields.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.35-40
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• 2013

Recently, the uses of Multi-Detector Computed Tomography (MDCT) for radiation treatment simulation and planning which is used for intensity modulated radiation therapy with high technique are increasing. Because of the increasing uses of MDCT, additional doses are also increasing. The objective of this study is to evaluate the absorbed dose of body and skin undergoing in MDCT scans. In this study, the exposed dose at the surface and the center of the cylindrical water phantom was measured using an pencil ionization chamber, 30 cc ionization chamber and TL Powder. The results of MDCT were 31.84 mGy, 33.58 mGy and 32.73 mGy respectively. The absorbed dose at the surface showed that the TL reading value was 33.92 mGy from MDCT. These results showed that the surface dose was about 3.5% from the MDCT exposure higher than a dose which is located at the center of the phantom. These results mean that the total exposed dose undergoing MDCT 4 times (diagnostic, radiation therapy planning, follow-up et al.), is about 14 cGy, and have to be considered significantly to reduce the exposed dose from CT scan.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.53 no.4
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• pp.592-597
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• 2010

Hyperimmunoglobulin E syndrome (HIES) is a rare immunodeficiency disease which is characterized by high serum IgE levels, eczema, and recurrent infections. Herein we present the case of a patient with HIES associated with STAT3 gene ($stat3$) mutation. A 16 year-old girl was admitted to our hospital due to hemoptysis caused by pneumonia with bronchiectasis. She had a history of recurrent skin and respiratory tract infections, such as pneumonia caused by MRSA (methicillin-resistant $Staphylococcus$ $aureus$) and $Pseudomonas$ $aeruginosa$. On physical examination, a broad round shaped nose, oral thrush, and chronic eczematous skin rash over her whole body were found. Laboratory data showed an elevated eosinophil count ($750/{\mu}L$) and total IgE level (5,001 U/mL). The patient's National Institutes of Health (NIH) score for HIES was 44. Direct sequencing of the STAT3 gene revealed that the patient was heterozygous for a missense mutation in the DNA binding domain of the STAT3 protein (c.1144C>T, p. Arg382Trp). HIES should be suspected in patients with recurrent infections and can be confirmed by clinical scoring and genetic analysis.