• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.45 no.10
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• pp.1227-1233
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• 2002

Purpose : Several studies have shown that increases of eosinophil markers are common findings of asthma and Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection, and eosinophil markers reflect the clinical stage of asthma. The purpose of this study was to investigate the change of eosinophil markers according to the clinical stage of Mycoplasma pneumonia. Methods : The patient group consisted of 33 outpatient children with Mycoplasma pneumonia. Peripheral blood total eosinophil count(TEC) and serum eosinophilic cationic protein(ECP) level were measured at both acute and recovery stages and were compared between both stages. The patient group was subdivided into the wheezing(n=16) and the nonwheezing group(n=17), and the TECs and the ECPs of one group were compared with those of the other group. The correlation between Mycoplasma antibody titer and the eosinophil markers of acute stage were analyzed. Results : In the whole patient group, the TECs and the ECPs of the acute stage were significantly higher than those of the recovery stage(P=0.018, P=0.005), but there were no differences in the TEC and the ECP between the wheezing and the nonwheezing group. In the wheezing group, there were no significant differences in the TEC and the ECP between acute and recovery stages. There were no correlations between acute stage Mycoplasma antibody titer and the eosinophil markers. Conclusion : Eosinophil markers reflect the clinical stage of Mycoplasma pneumonia and eosinophilic inflammations may continue even after the acute stage in wheezing patients with Mycoplasma pneumonia.

• The Journal of the Acoustical Society of Korea
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.252-261
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• 2013

The common speech recognition system displays higher recognition performance in a quiet environment, while its performance declines sharply in a real environment where there are noises. To implement a speech recognizer that is robust in different speech settings, this study suggests the method of Parallel Model Combination adaptation using frequency-variant based on environment-awareness (FV-PMC), which uses variants in frequency; acquires the environmental data for speech recognition; applies it to upgrading the speech recognition model; and promotes its performance enhancement. This FV-PMC performs the speech recognition with the recognition model which is generated as followings: i) calculating the average frequency variant in advance among the readily-classified noise groups and setting it as a threshold value; ii) recalculating the frequency variant among noise groups when speech with unknown noises are input; iii) regarding the speech higher than the threshold value of the relevant group as the speech including the noise of its group; and iv) using the speech that includes this noise group. When noises were classified with the proposed FV-PMC, the average accuracy of classification was 56%, and the results from the speech recognition experiments showed the average recognition rate of Set A was 79.05%, the rate of Set B 79.43%m, and the rate of Set C 83.37% respectively. The grand mean of recognition rate was 80.62%, which demonstrates 5.69% more improved effects than the recognition rate of 74.93% of the existing Parallel Model Combination with a clear model, meaning that the proposed method is effective.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.59 no.3
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• pp.286-297
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• 2005

Background : Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is a common cause of cancer-related death in North America and Korea, with an overall 5-year survival rate of between 4 and 14%. The TNM staging system is the best prognostic index for operable NSCLC . However, epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), matrix metalloproteinase-9(MMP-9), and C-erbB-2 have all been implicated in the pathogenesis of NSCLC and might provide prognostic information. Methods : Immunohistochemical staining of 81 specimens from a resected primary non-small cell lung cancer was evaluated in order to determine the role of the biological markers on NSCLC . Immunohistochemical staining for EGFR, MMP-9, and C-erbB-2 was performed on paraffin-embedded tissue sections to observe the expression pattern according to the pathologic type and surgical staging. The correlations between the expression of each biological marker and the survival time was determined. Results : When positive immunohistochemical staining was defined as the extent area>20%(more than Grade 2), the positive rates for EGFR, MMP-9, and C-erbB-2 staining were 71.6%, 44.3%, and 24.1% of the 81 patients, respectively. The positive rates of EGFR and MMP-9 stain for NSCLC according to the surgical stages I, II, and IIIa were 75.0% and 41.7%, 66.7% and 47.6%, and 76.9% and 46.2%, respectively. The median survival time of the EGFR(-) group, 71.8 months, was significantly longer than that of the EGFR(+) group, 33.5 months.(p=0.018, Kaplan-Meier Method, log-rank test).. The MMP-9(+) group had a shorter median survival time than the MMP-9(-) group, 35.0 and 65.3 months, respectively (p=0.2). The co-expression of EGFR and MMP-9 was associated with a worse prognosis with a median survival time of 26.9 months, when compared with the 77 months for both negative-expression groups (p=0.0023). There were no significant differences between the C-erbB-2(+) and C-erbB-2 (-) groups. Conclusion : In NSCLC, the expression of EGFR might be a prognostic factor, and the co-expression of EGFR and MMP-9 was found to be associated with a poor prognosis. However, C-erbB-2 expression had no prognostic significance.

• The Journal of the Acoustical Society of Korea
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• v.13 no.5
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• pp.51-58
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• 1994

These times many kinds of man-machine Interfaces using speech signal, speech recognizers or speech synthesizers, are proposed and utilized in practice. Especially speech synthesis system is widely used in our life. But its assessment method is still in its first stage. In this paper we propose a method to generate multi-syllable nonsense wordset for the purpose of synthetic speech assessment and applies the wordset to one commercial text-to-speech system. Some results about the experiment is suggested and it is verified that the method to generate a nonsense wordset can be used to assess the intelligibility of the synthesizer in phoneme level or in phonemic environmental level.

• Proceedings of the KSLP Conference
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• 1998.11a
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• pp.198-198
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• 1998

성악발성 시 전문적인 성악가와 비전문가에서 성대외근의 수축 경향을 파악함으로써, 성대외근이 성악발성에 갖는 중요성을 파악하고, 얻어진 자료를 토대로 성악발성 숙련도의 판정이나 성악인의 음성치료에 활용할 수 있는 가능성을 알아보고자 하였다. 서양음악을 전공한 지 10년 이상 된 20-30대의 소프라노 4인을 성악가 군으로, 비전공자 여성 4인을 대조군으로 하여, E3 부터 C6 내의 9개 음을 낮은 음부터 시작하여 차례로 /이/ 모음을 수초간 발성하게 하였다. Multi-Mode Program (UP) Plus (Nicolet, Viking IV)와 1개 채널의 음성신호 및 3개 채널의 surface electrode를 이용하여 발성 시설골상근, 설골하근, 견갑설골근의 활동전위를 측정한 뒤, 단위시간 당 근전위 진폭의 합을 구하여 두 군간에 그 양상을 비교하였다. (중략)

• KOREAN POULTRY JOURNAL
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.128-132
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• 2012

난가공 전문회사 농업회사법인 세양(주)은 친환경 신선한 계란을 생산하기위해 21만수 규모의 산란계농장을 설립했다. 지난해 3월 충북 음성군 삼성면에 착공을 시작으로 그해 10월 첫입식과 함께 지금은 한창 산란피크를 올리고 있다. 이 농장은 1개동 계사에 21만수 전수사육이 가능하도록 최신식 무창계사를 신축했고, 무엇보다 환기와 차단방역에 중점을 둔 시설설비로 총 74억 원의 어마어마한 투자 비용이 소요되면서 주목받고 있다. 농업회사법인 세양(주) 음성농장(이하 음성농장)의 강구만 대표를 만나 농장에 대해 보다 자세히 들어 보았다.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.62 no.6
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• pp.479-485
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• 2007

Background: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the differences in CT findings according to sputum smear-positive or -negative results in patients with active pulmonary tuberculosis having a single cavity. Methods: A total of 32 patients with active pulmonary tuberculosis having a single cavity on CT were classified into two groups: smear-positive (n=19) and smear-negative (n=13). The CT findings were reviewed retrospectively. The presence of consolidation, the number of lobes showing consolidation, ground-glass opacity, micronodules and nodule, the maximum diameter of the cavity, and the shape and maximum thickness of the cavity wall were assessed. Result: The maximum diameter of the cavity was $33.84{\pm}13.65mm$ and $27.08{\pm}9.04mm $ in the smear-positive and -negative groups, respectively (p>0.05). The amount of consolidation and the number of lobes with consolidation were found to be 89.5% and 30.8% (p=0.01) and $1.37{\pm}0.90$ and $0.31{\pm}0.48$ (p=0.0002) in the smear-positive and -negative groups, respectively. Consolidations in two or more lobes were only noted in 31.6% of in the sputum smear- positive group (p< 0.05). There were no other significant differences between the two groups. The sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values for the presence of consolidation were 89.5%, 69.2%, 73.9%, and 81.8%, respectively. Conclusion: While the absence of consolidation on CT may be associated with sputum smear-negative results in patients with active pulmonary tuberculosis having a single cavity, the presence of consolidation in two or more lobes on CT may be associated with spear-positive results in these patients.

• KOREAN POULTRY JOURNAL
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• v.42 no.8
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• pp.128-131
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• 2010

육계산업에 대한 넓은 고민을 사양가들과 함께 나누며, HACCP과 무항생제 인증을 받아 육계 사육에도 열성을 보이고 있는 충북 음성군 소이면에 위치한 세연농장(대표 이기민)을 둘러보았다.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.50 no.1
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• pp.84-93
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• 2001

Backgrounds : In the absence of distant metastasis, small cell lung cancer (SCLC) patients presenting with supraclavicular lymph node (SCLN) involvement and pleural effusion can benefit from thoracic radiotherapy. But there are some debate as to the prognostic significance of both SCLN involvement and pleural effusion. The purpose of this study was to determine the prognostic significance of SCLN involvement and pleural effusion in SCLC. Methods : Two Hundred and fifteen patients with histologically confirmed small cell lung cancer, who were treated either at the Keimyung university Dongsan hospital and Kyungpook national university hospital from January 1994 to June 1998, were evaluated retrospectively. The patients were classified as having either limited or extensive stage using the Veterans Administration staging system. Results : SCLN was presented in 10.5% of patients(n=21). The median survival was 247 days for patients with SCLN(n=21) and 264 days for patients without(n=194) (p=0.52). After treatment, the median survival was 298 days for patients with SCLN(n=13) and 348 days for patients without(n=115) (p=0.52). SCLN involvement was not correlated with the presence of distant metastases. Median survival was 459 days for patients with a limited stage without SCLN(n=66), 650 days for those with a limited stage with SCLN (n=7) (p=0.96). Pleural effusion was presented in 24.7% of patients(n=52). The median survival was 198 days for patients with pleural effusion(n=52) and 275 days for patients without(n=163) (p<0.05). After treatment, the median survival was 294 days for patients with a pleural effusion(n=25) and 286 days for patients without(n=103) (p=0.39). The presence of pleural effusion was not correlated with that of distant metastases. The median survival was 395 days for patients with a limited stage without a pleural effusion(n=63), 451 days for those with a limited stage with pleural effusion(n=10) (p=0.92). Conclusionsa : In this study, SCLN involvement does not explain the poor survival rate and the relevance to extensive staged disease. Furthermore, the existence of a pleural effusion did not correlated with the presence of distant metastases. However, the presence of a pleural effusion appears to be a minor prognostic factor in our study. Therefore supraclavicular lymph node involvement and the presence of a pleural effusion in SCLC are not poor prognostic factors, which does not justify any amendment to the staging system currently used.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.46 no.5
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• pp.480-483
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• 2003

Purpose : We evaluated clinical manifestations and laboratory findings in patients with measles according to C-reactive protein(CRP) concentration. Methods : A retrospective analysis was performed using the medical records of patients with measles at The Catholic University of Korea, Daejeon St. Mary's Hospital from October 1999 to May 2000. We divided the patients with measles into four groups according to CRP level, i.e., those with below 5 mg/L(134 patients, negative group), those with 6-19 mg/L(85 patients), those with 20-49 mg/L(27 patients), and those over 50 mg/L(7 patients). We compared clinical and laboratory characteristics among these four groups. Results : The mean CRP level of all patients was $11.1{\pm}7.5mg/L$. No statistical differences were present between the negative group and the 6-19 mg/L group or the 20-49 mg/L group in the duration of fever, hospitalization days, complications determined with longer hospitalization for more than eight days, white blood cell count, and incidence of hepatitis. Compared with the negative group, the over 50 mg/L group showed a longer duration of fever($4.7{\pm}1.7$ vs $7.2{\pm}3.9days$), duration of hospitalization($5.4{\pm}1.4$ vs $9.4{\pm}4.7days$), incidence of complications(5.2% vs 42.9%) and a higher mean level of WBC count($5,900{\pm}2,700/mm^3$ vs $12,700{\pm}6,700/mm^3$). With an increasing CRP level, there was a tendency for the duration of fever, complications and WBC count to increase. However the levels of liver enzymes(AST/ALT) were not associated with CRP level. Conclusion : A CRP level of over 50 mg/L in measles is associated with severity and complications.