• Proceedings of the Korean Information Science Society Conference
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• 2007.06a
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• pp.17-18
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• 2007

데이터베이스 튜닝은 일반적으로 데이터베이스 어플리케이션을 "좀 더 빠르게" 실행하게 하는 일련의 활동을 뜻한다[1]. 데이터베이스 관리자가 튜닝에 필요한 주먹구구식 룰(Rule of thumb)들을 모두 파악 하고 상황에 맞추어 적용하는 것은 비싼 비용과 오랜 시간을 요구한다. 그렇게 때문에 서로 다른 어플 리케이션들이 맞물려 있는 복잡한 서비스는 필수적으로 자동화된 데이터베이스 성능 관리와 튜닝을 필 요로 한다. 본 논문에서는 이를 해결하기 위하여 지식 도매인(Knowledge Domain)을 기초로 한 자동화 된 데이터베이스 튜닝 원칙(Tuning Principle)을 제시하는 시스템을 제안한다. 각각의 데이터베이스 튜닝 이론들은 지식 도매인의 지식으로 활용되며, 성능에 영향을 미치는 요소들을 개체(Object)와 콘셉트 (Concept)로 구성하고 추론 시스템을 통해 튜닝 원칙을 추론하여 쉽고 빠르게 현재 상황에 맞는 튜닝 방법론을 적용시킬 수 있다. 자동화된 데이터베이스 튜닝에 대해 여러 분야에 걸쳐 학문적인 연구가 이루어지고 있다. 그 예로써 Microsoft의 AutoAdmin Project[2], Oracle의 SQL 튜닝 아키텍처[3], COLT[4], DBA Companion[5], SQUASH[6] 등을 들 수 있다. 이러한 최적화 기법들을 각각의 기능적인 방법론에 따라 다시 분류하면 크게 Design Tuning, Logical Structure Tuning, Sentence Tuning, SQL Tuning, Server Tuning, System/Network Tuning으로 나누어 볼 수 있다. 이 중 SQL Tuning 등은 수치적으로 결정되어 이미 존재하는 정보를 이용하기 때문에 구조화된 모델로 표현하기 쉽고 사용자의 다양한 요구에 의해 변화하는 조건들을 수용하기 쉽기 때문에 이에 중점을 두고 성능 문제를 해결하는 데 초점을 맞추었다. 데이터베이스 시스템의 일련의 처리 과정에 따라 DBMS를 구성하는 개체들과 속성, 그리고 연관 관계들이 모델링된다. 데이터베이스 시스템은 Application / Query / DBMS Level의 3개 레벨에 따라 구조화되며, 본 논문에서는 개체, 속성, 연관 관계 및 데이터베이스 튜닝에 사용되는 Rule of thumb들을 분석하여 튜닝 원칙을 포함한 지식의 형태로 변환하였다. 튜닝 원칙은 데이터베이스 시스템에서 발생하는 문제를 해결할 수 있게 하는 일종의 황금률로써 지식 도매인의 바탕이 되는 사실(Fact)과 룰(Rule) 로써 표현된다. Fact는 모델링된 시스템을 지식 도매인의 하나의 지식 개체로 표현하는 방식이고, Rule 은 Fact에 기반을 두어 튜닝 원칙을 지식의 형태로 표현한 것이다. Rule은 다시 시스템 모델링을 통해 사전에 정의되는 Rule와 튜닝 원칙을 추론하기 위해 사용되는 Rule의 두 가지 타업으로 나뉘며, 대부분의 Rule은 입력되는 값에 따라 다른 솔루션을 취하게 하는 분기의 역할을 수행한다. 사용자는 제한적으로 자동 생성된 Fact와 Rule을 통해 튜닝 원칙을 추론하여 데이터베이스 시스템에 적용할 수 있으며, 요구나 필요에 따라 GUI를 통해 상황에 맞는 Fact와 Rule을 수동으로 추가할 수도 었다. 지식 도매인에서 튜닝 원칙을 추론하기 위해 JAVA 기반의 추론 엔진인 JESS가 사용된다. JESS는 스크립트 언어를 사용하는 전문가 시스템[7]으로 선언적 룰(Declarative Rule)을 이용하여 지식을 표현 하고 추론을 수행하는 추론 엔진의 한 종류이다. JESS의 지식 표현 방식은 튜닝 원칙을 쉽게 표현하고 수용할 수 있는 구조를 가지고 있으며 작은 크기와 빠른 추론 성능을 가지기 때문에 실시간으로 처리 되는 어플리케이션 튜닝에 적합하다. 지식 기반 모률의 가장 큰 역할은 주어진 데이터베이스 시스템의 모델을 통하여 필요한 새로운 지식을 생성하고 저장하는 것이다. 이를 위하여 Fact와 Rule은 지식 표현 의 기본 단위인 트리플(Triple)의 형태로 표현된다, 트리플은 Subject, Property, Object의 3가지 요소로 구성되며, 대부분의 Fact와 Rule들은 트리플의 기본 형태 또는 트리플의 조합으로 이루어진 C Condition과 Action의 두 부분의 결합으로 구성된다. 이와 같이 데이터베이스 시스템 모델의 개체들과 속성, 그리고 연관 관계들을 표현함으로써 지식들이 추론 엔진의 Fact와 Rule로 기능할 수 있다. 본 시스템에서는 이를 구현 및 실험하기 위하여 웹 기반 서버-클라이언트 시스템을 가정하였다. 서버는 Process Controller, Parser, Rule Database, JESS Reasoning Engine으로 구성 되 어 있으며, 클라이 언트는 Rule Manager Interface와 Result Viewer로 구성되어 었다. 실험을 통해 얻어지는 튜닝 원칙 적용 전후의 실행 시간 측정 등 데이터베이스 시스템 성능 척도를 비교함으로써 시스템의 효용을 판단하였으며, 실험 결과 적용 전에 비하여 튜닝 원칙을 적용한 경우 최대 1초 미만의 전처리에 따른 부하 시간 추가와 최소 약 1.5배에서 최대 약 3배까지의 처리 시간 개선을 확인하였다. 본 논문에서 제안하는 시스템은 튜닝 원칙을 자동으로 생성하고 지식 형태로 변형시킴으로써 새로운 튜닝 원칙을 파생하여 제공하고, 성능에 영향을 미치는 요소와 함께 직접 Fact과 Rule을 추가함으로써 커스터마이정된 튜닝을 수행할 수 있게 하는 장점을 가진다. 추후 쿼리 자체의 튜닝 및 인텍스 최적화 등의 프로세스 자동화와 Rule을 효율적으로 정의하고 추가하는 방법 그리고 시스템 모델링을 효과적으로 구성하는 방법에 대한 연구를 통해 본 연구를 더욱 개선시킬 수 있을 것이다.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.5-21
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• 2015

An energy pile is a novel type of ground heat exchangers (GHEX's) which sets up heat exchange pipes inside a pile foundation, and allows to circulate a working fluid through the pipe for exchanging thermal energy with the surrounding ground stratum. Using existing foundation structure, the energy pile can function not only as a structural foundation but also as a GHEX. In this paper, six full-scale energy piles were constructed in a test bed with various configurations of the heat exchange pipe inside large-diameter cast-in-place piles, that is, three parallel U-type heat exchangers (5, 8 and 10 pairs), two coil type heat exchangers (with a 500 mm and 200 mm pitch), and one S-type heat exchanger. During constructing the energy piles, the constructability of each energy pile was evaluated with consideration of the installation time, the number of workers and any difficulty for installing. In order to evaluate the thermal performance of energy piles, the thermal performance tests were carried out by applying intermittent (8 hours operating-16 hours pause) artificial cooling operation to simulate a cooling load for commercial buildings. Through the thermal performance tests, the heat exchange rates of the six energy piles were evaluated in terms of the heat exchange amount normalized with the length of energy pile and/or the length of heat exchange pipe. Finally, the economic feasibility of energy pile was evaluated according to the various types of heat exchange pipe by calculating demanded expenses per 1 W/m based on the thermal performance test results along with the market value of heat exchange pipes and labor cost.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.36 no.3 s.104
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• pp.322-335
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• 2003

Nutrient fluxes and sediment oxygen demands (SOD) were measured with intact sediment cores collected from three stations in the downstream of Nagdong River. The sediments were subjected to controlled oxic and hypoxic conditions and temperature gradients (from $10^{\circ}C$ to $30^{\circ}C$) of the overlying waters in laboratory batch system. The effect of temperature and labile layer thickness of the sediment on SOD were examined. $PO_4\;^{3-}$ and $NH_4\;^+$ fluxes were elevated above $20^{\circ}C$ and large mobilities were observed when they were coupled with a hypoxic and high-temperature condition. In the well oxygenated conditions, $PO_4\;^{3-}$ fluxes were negative or negligible but $NH_4\;^+$ fluxes ranged from 1.3 mg N $m^{-2}\;hr^{-1}$ to 2.3 $m^{-2}\;hr^{-1}$. Temperature quotients($Q_{10}$) of $PO_4\;^{3-}$ fluxes were 3.7 ${\sim}$ 7.3 ranges to have the most high values. $PO_4\;^{3-}$ and $NH_4\;^+$ fluxes had the logarithmic increase with temperature, while $NO_3\;^-$ was negatively absorbed to the sediment and linearly correlated with the temperature. $SiO_2$ fluxes showed no difference among oxic and hypoxic conditions and sediment texture. The nutrient fluxes would be closely correlated with pore water chemistry of sediments and activated by the top sediment layer composition such as labile organic matters or algal detritus. The ecological implications of the nutrient fluxes were discussed in terms of sources and sinks of nutrients coupled to algal productions in the Nagdong River.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.149-158
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• 2004

만성적이거나 반복적인 스트레스는 우울중이나 심신병 등의 발병 기전과 밀접한 관련이 있다. 전기적 자극(electric foot shock), 한랭 자극, 속박(immobilization), 투쟁(fighting), 에테르 노출 등과 같은 심한 스트레스 자극이 뇌 조직의 시상 및 시상하부, 편도체 등에서의 노르아드레날린(noradrenalin) 방출을 유의 하게 감소시키는 동시에 혈청 corticosterone을 증가시키는 것으로 알려져 있다. 한의학에서는 스트레스 인자에 대한 신체반응을 기(氣)의 변화로 인식하고 있고, 이러한 자극요인들은 신체에 대하여 병적 요인을 제공하여 제반 질환을 야기한다. 또한 질병 발생에 대한 근거로 정기(正氣)와 사기(邪氣)의 상호 관계 위주로 인식하는데, 내부의 기(氣)의 변조(變調)는 질병의 발생을 야기하는 기초가 된다. 실험에 사용된 연근(蓮根)은 연꽃과에 속한 수생초본인 연꽃의 뿌리부분으로 우(藕) 또는 우절(藕節)이라는 명칭으로 불리기도 한다. 성미(性味)는 감(甘) 삽(澁) 평(平) 무독(無毒)하고 폐(肺) 위(胃) 간경(肝經)으로 들어가며 수렴지혈(收斂止血) 화어(化瘀)의 효능이 있어 토혈(吐血) 객혈(喀血) 뇨혈(尿血) 편혈(便血) 등의 각종 출혈 증상에 사용되어져 왔다. 최근 연꽃의 부위별 추출물이 흰쥐의 지질 과산화 생성을 효과적으로 억제하는 것으로 보고되고 있어 연근(蓮根)에 대한 다양한 약리 효능의 검색이 필요할 것으로 생각되며 연꽃의 씨앗인 연자육(蓮子肉)이 양심안신(養心安神)의 효능이 있어 스트레스성 질환에 많이 응용되고 있는 것에 착안하여 본 연구를 착수하였다. 실험 동물은 ICR계 마우스를 이용하였으며, 사회 심리적 스트레스는 옆쪽 cage에서 다른 마우스의 신체에 가해지는 전기 충격을 하루 1시간 동안 지켜보게 하는 것으로 유발하였으며 이 상태에서 약물을 투여한 그룹을 실험군, 그렇지 않은 그룹을 대조군으로 하였다. 정상군은 아무런 자극 없이 하루 1시간 동안 일정 공간에 가두어 두는 것으로 하였다. 실험 결과 사회 심리적 스트레스를 받은 경우에 아무런 처치를 하지 않은 대조군에 비해 연근 추출물을 100mg/kg/day 용량으로 5 일간 투여한 실험군에서 혈청 중 corticosterone 함량이 유의하게 감소하였으므로 매우 효과적으로 스트레스를 해소하였음을 알 수 있다. 뇌세포 중에서 신경전달물질로 분비되는 노르아드레날린의 분비량은 전반적으로 증가되는 경향을 나타내었으나 유의성은 없었다. 신체적 또는 사회 심리적 스트레스가 간 조직 내 지질의 과산화를 유발하는 것으로 나타났으며 연근 추출물이 이 결과에는 영향을 주지 못하였다. 사회 심리적 스트레스로 인하여 간 조직 내 지질과산화 정도가 증가하였으므로 혈청 내 ALT 함량도 따라 증가할 것으로 추정되었으며 이에 대한 연근 추출물 경구 투여가 간 조직을 보호할 수 있는지를 확인하기 위해 분리한 혈청으로부터 ALT 함량을 측정한 결과 대조군에 비하여 유의한 감소를 나타내었다. 또한 연근 추출물이 혈청 내 지질 과산화물의 생성을 억제할 수 있다면 질병의 예방과 치료에 효과적일 것으로 추정할 수 있으므로 그 생성량을 측정하여 보았으나 대조군과의 차이가 나타나지 않았다. 이상의 결과들을 종합하여 보면 스트레스가 부하된 5일 동안 연근(蓮根) 추출물을 함께 투여한 결과 혈청 corticosterone 함량을 유의하게 감소시켰고 뇌 조직내 noradrenaline 함량을 증가시키는 경향을 나타내어 스트레스 해소에 도움이 될 수 있음을 시사하였다. 또한 혈청 내 ALT 함량을 유의하게 감소시켜 스트레스로 인해 발생하는 간 기능의 손상도 어느 정도 억제시키는 것을 확인할 수 있었는데 앞으로 연근(蓮根)의 이러한 작용에 대한 보다 자세한 연구들이 필요한 것으로 생각된다.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.35 no.6
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• pp.364-370
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• 2001

Purpose: In the revascuarization of ischemic dysfunctional myocardium, stunned myocardium was reported to recover function earlier than hibernating myocardium. It was also suggested that stunning and hibernation could be discriminated by reversibility of perfusion impairment on myocardial SPECT. In this study, we investigated the time course of functional recover after CABG according to reversibility of perfusion impairment. Materials and Methods: In 92 patients with coronary artery disease, Tl-201 rest/dipyridamole stress Tc-99m-MIBI gated SPECT was performed before, 3 months after, and 17 months after CABG. Using a 20-segment model, segmental perfusion and systolic thickening were automatically quantified. Perfusion-impaired segments with abnormal thickening were classified by reversibility into reversible (REV) and irreversible (IRREV) groups. The proportions of function-recovered segments were compared between groups and also between 3 months and 17 months in each group. Results: A total of 129 segments were Included In the analysis, and 76 were REV and 53 were IRREV. At 3 months after CABG, 61 segments (80%) in REV group showed functional recovery while 28 segments (53%) in IRREV group did (p<0.001). However, at 17 months after CABG, 60 segments (79%) in REV group and 37 segments (70%) un IRREV group showed functional recovery (p=n.s.). When comparing 3 months and 17 months in each group, REV group showed no difference, while IRREV group showed significant further improvement (p<0.05). Conclusion: In viable myocardium with ischemic myocardial dysfunction, the segments with reversible perfusion impairment recover function earlier after revascularization than irreversible segments.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.493-501
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• 1996

To assess contribution of T1-201 rest-24 hour delay redistribution in detection of viable myocardium, we studied the predictive value of this redistribution in 17 patients who peformed rest-24 hour delay perfusion SPECT before bypass surgery. Regional wall motion was compared with gated SPECT in 10 patients and echocardiography in 7 patients before and after bypass surgery. Rest and 24 hour delayed uptakes were scored from 0 (normal perfusion) to 3 (defect). In rest SPECT, 56 segments showed perfusion decrease. Thirty four segments(61%) improved after surgery and were defined as viable Nineteen(34%) segments had more uptake of T1-201 at 24 hour delay, and the other 37 segments did not. In 81%(25/31) of segments with mildly decreased perfusion, wall motion after bypass surgery improved, 57% (8/14) of segments with severely decreased perfusion improved, and 9%(1/11) of segments with defects improved. In 14 among 19 segments which had more T1-201 uptakes at 24 hour delay, wall motion was improved(positive predictive value of redistribution: 74%). 20 among 37 segments which had persistent decreases in rest-24 hour redistribution improved and 17 did not(negative predictive value: 46%). Segments having severe perfusion decrease or defects showed improved wall motion after surgery in 64%(7/11), if it had redistribution at delay. Segments with either mildly decreased uptake in resting or rest-delayed redistribution showed improved wall motion in 76%(32/42). Among the 14 segments which showed improvement in wall motion, 10 had partial reversibility in stress-rest images and the other 4 had persistent perfusion defects in stress-rest images. These 4 segments were found viable only with rest-24 hour delayed perfusion SPECT. We concluded that rest T1-201 uptake or redistribution at 24 hour delay should be referred as an evidence to warrant postoperative improvement of abnormal wall motion and we could predict myocardial viability with preoperative rest-24 hour delay perfusion SPECT in the segments with rest perfusion decreases.

• Journal of Korean Orthopaedic Sports Medicine
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.27-34
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• 2011

Purpose: To evaluate the short term clinical result of ACL reconstruction with autologous hamstring tendon using Cross pin and Graft Tensioner and to seek way to resolve the experienced technical problems. Materials and Methods: From January 2008 to March 2009, 35 patients who had been treated arthroscopic ACL reconstruction were enrolled. The femoral side of ACL graft was fixed with Cross pin. The tibial side of graft was fixed with Intrafix and post-tie. The graft was tensioned with Graft Tensioner at 80N. We analyzed the clinical, radiographic results and complications. Results: IKDC subjective score and Lysholm score improved to 89.1 and 91.4 points. Also, Pivot shift test and One-leg hop test showed good results postoperatively. Side to side difference using KT-1000 arthrometer and Telos stress radiography improved compared with normal limb to $2.8{\pm}1.6$ mm and $2.6{\pm}1.3$ mm, respectively. The femoral tunnel enlarged to $2.3{\pm}1.1$ mm. Soft tissue irritation and femoral tunnel-graft harness length mismatch, femoral tunnel-cross pin tunnel mismatch were happened as peri-operative complications. Conclusion: Using of Cross pin and Graft Tensioner for ACL reconstruction with hamstring tendon is one of the good method for obtaining stability in short-term clinical result. But to reduce femoral tunnel-cross pin mismatch, it needs to shorten femoral bone tunnel and to create cross pin tunnel as vertical as possible. And to reduce femoral tunnel-graft harness mismatch, it needs to advance position rod further 3 mm when to create femoral tunnel.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.345-353
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• 2022

A wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) is a major gateway for the engineered nano-particles (ENPs) entering the water bodies. However existing studies have reported that many WWTPs exceed the No Observed Effective Concentration (NOEC) for ENPs in the effluent and thus they need to be designed or operated to more effectively control ENPs. Understanding and predicting ENPs behaviors in the unit and \the whole process of a WWTP should be the key first step to develop strategies for controlling ENPs using a WWTP. This study aims to provide a modeling tool for predicting behaviors and removal efficiencies of ENPs in a WWTP associated with process characteristics and major operating conditions. In the developed model, four unit processes for water treatment (primary clarifier, bioreactor, secondary clarifier, and tertiary treatment unit) were considered. Additionally the model simulates the sludge treatment system as a single process that integrates multiple unit processes including thickeners, digesters, and dewatering units. The simulated ENP was nano-sized TiO₂, (nano-TiO₂) assuming that its behavior in a WWTP is dominated by the attachment with suspendid solids (SS), while dissolution and transformation are insignificant. The attachment mechanism of nano-TiO₂ to SS was incorporated into the model equations using the apparent solid-liquid partition coefficient (Kd) under the equilibrium assumption between solid and liquid phase, and a steady state condition of nano-TiO₂ was assumed. Furthermore, an MS Excel-based user interface was developed to provide user-friendly environment for the nano-TiO₂ removal efficiency calculations. Using the developed model, a preliminary simulation was conducted to examine how the solid retention time (SRT), a major operating variable affects the removal efficiency of nano-TiO₂ particles in a WWTP.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.297-305
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• 2023

The recycled irrigation is a type of irrigation that uses downstream water to fulfill irrigation demand in the upstream agricultural areas; the used irrigation water returns back to the downstream. The recycled irrigation is advantageous for securing irrigation water for plant growth, but the returned water typically contains high levels of nutrients due to excess nutrients inputs during the agricultural activities, potentially deteriorating stream water quality. Therefore, quantitative assessment on the effect of the recycled irrigation on the stream water quality is required to establish strategies for effective irrigation water supply and water quality management. For this purpose, a watershed model is generally used; however no functions to simulate the effects of the recycled irrigation are provided in the existing watershed models. In this study, we used multi-reservoir model coupled with the Hydrological Simulation Program-Fortran (HSPF) to estimate the effect of the recycled irrigation on the stream water quality. The study area was the Gwangok stream watershed, a subwatershed of Gyeseong stream watershed in Changnyeong county, Gyeongsangnam-do. The HSPF model was built, calibrated, and used to produce time series data of flow and water quality, which were used as hypothetical observation data to calibrate the multi-reservoir model. The calibrated multi-reservoir model was used for simulating the recycled irrigation. In the multi-reservoir model, the Gwangok watershed consisted of two subsystems, irrigation and the Gwangok stream, and the reactions (plant uptake, adsorption, desorption, and decay) within each subsystem, and fluxes of water and materials between the subsystems, were modeled. Using the developed model, three scenarios with different combinations of the operating conditions of the recycled irrigation were evaluated for their effects on the stream water quality.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.224-230
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• 2005

Purpose: The maximal elastance ($E_{max}$) of myocardium has been established as a reliable load-independent contractility index. Recently, we developed a noninvasive method to measure the regional contractility using gated myocardial SPECT and arterial tonometry data. In this study, we measured regional $E_{max}(rE_{max}$ in the patients who underwent coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG), and assessed its relationship with other variables. Materials and Methods: 21 patients (M:F=17:4, $58{\pm}12$ y) who underwent CABG were enrolled. $^{201}TI$ rest/dipyridamole stress $^{99m}Tc$-sestamibi gated SPECT were performed before and 3 months after CABG. For 15 myocardial regions, regional time-elastance curve was obtained using the pressure data of tonometry and the volume data of gated SPECT. To investigate the coupling with myocardial function, preoperative regional $E_{max}$ was compared with regional perfusion and systolic thickening. In addition, the correlation between $E_{max}$ and viability was assessed in dysfunctional segments (thickening <20% before CABG). The viability was defined as improvement of postoperative systolic thickening more than 10%. Results: Regional $E_{max}$ was slightly increased after CABG from $2.41{\pm}1.64 (pre)\;to\;2.78{\pm}1.83 (post)$ mmHg/ml. $E_{max}$ had weak correlation with perfusion and thickening (r=0.35, p<0.001). In the regions of preserved perfusion (${\geq}60%$), $E_{max}$ was $2.65{\pm}1.67$, while it was $1.30{\pm}1.24$ in the segments of decreased perfusion. With regard to thickening, $E_{max}$ was $3.01{\pm}1.92$ mmHg/ml for normal regions (thickening ${geq}40%$), $2.40{\pm}1.19$ mmHg/ml for mildly dysfunctional regions (<40% and ${\geq}20%$), and $1.13{\pm}0.89$ mmHg/ml for severely dysfunctional regions (<20%). $E_{max}$ was improved after CABG in both the viable (from $1.27{\pm}1.07\;to\;1.79{\pm}1.48$ mmHg/ml) and non-viable segments (from $0.97 {\pm}0.59\;to\;1.22{\pm}0.71$ mmHg/ml), but there was no correlation between $E_{max}$ and thickening improvements (r=0.007). Conclusions: Preoperative regional $E_{max}$ was relatively concordant with regional perfusion and systolic thickening on gated myocardial SPECT. In dysfunctional but viable segments, $E_{max}$ was improved after CABG, but showed no correlation with thickening improvement. As a load-independent contractility index of dysfunctional myocardial segments, we suggest that the regional $E_{max}$ could be an independent parameter in the assessment of myocardial function.