• Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging
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• v.42 no.6
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• pp.469-477
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• 2008

Purpose: The goal of this paper is to present the design and performance of a position encoding circuit for $16{\times}16$ array of position sensitive multi-anode photomultiplier tube for small animal PET scanners. This circuit which reduces the number of readout channels from 256 to 4 channels is based on a charge division method utilizing a resistor array. Materials and Methods: The position encoding circuit was simulated with PSpice before fabrication. The position encoding circuit reads out the signals from H9500 flat panel PMTs (Hamamatsu Photonics K.K., Japan) on which $1.5{\times}1.5{\times}7.0\;mm^3$ $L_{0.9}GSO$ ($Lu_{1.8}Gd_{0.2}SiO_{5}:Ce$) crystals were mounted. For coincidence detection, two different PET modules were used. One PET module consisted of a $29{\times}29\;L_{0.9}GSO$ crystal layer, and the other PET module two $28{\times}28$ and $29{\times}29\;L_{0.9}GSO$ crystal layers which have relative offsets by half a crystal pitch in x- and y-directions. The crystal mapping algorithm was also developed to identify crystals. Results: Each crystal was clearly visible in flood images. The crystal identification capability was enhanced further by changing the values of resistors near the edge of the resistor array. Energy resolutions of individual crystal were about 11.6%(SD 1.6). The flood images were segmented well with the proposed crystal mapping algorithm. Conclusion: The position encoding circuit resulted in a clear separation of crystals and sufficient energy resolutions with H9500 flat-panel PMT and $L_{0.9}GSO$ crystals. This circuit is good enough for use in small animal PET scanners.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.111-119
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• 2007

Differentiation of cells can be induced through modulation of endogenous regulators using exogenous factors. Useful transfection systems to transport a specific exogenous regulator into cell have been tried but still there are many obstacles to overcome. In this study, we examined the transfection efficiency of cell permeable peptides (CPPs) in mouse embryonic stem cell under the various conditions. To identify the CPP-mediated translocation of a protein, we employed recombinant CPP-enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP). Viability of R1 cells was different between experimental groups depending on the kind of CPP and the concentration of CPP-EGFP. Translocation of CPP-EGFPs into the R1 cells was not detected until 30 min after CPP-EGFPs treatment in all groups. After 1 hr, translocation of pEP-1-EGFP-N was detected, but it could not be detected in the other group. Transfection of pEP-1EGFP-N was independent on its concentration. The time course did not show saturation even after 24 hr in pEP-1-EGFP-N. These results showed that the permeability depended on the kind of CPP and the location of His-tag in the case of examined CPPs, and did not need biological energy. On summary, the efficiency of transfection of CPP-EGFP depends on the CPP sequences but the culture time is not a key factor in transfection for the mouse embryonic stem cell. For the future studies to improve the efficiency of translocation of protein into embryonic stem cells, it is needed to develop modified CPP or mediator. The studies would be very useful to induce the differentiation of embryonic stem cells.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.347-360
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• 2007

In order to evaluate the degree and extent of heavy metal pollution and the environmental impacts of abandoned Cu mines in Goseong-gun, soils and paddies were collected from the mine area and have been analysed for heavy metal contents. The heavy metal contents were much higher in mountain soils than in paddy soils. Total content of heavy metals decreased in order of Cu>Zn>Pb>As>Cr>Cd in mountain soils whereas Zn>Pb>Cu>Cr>As>Cd in paddy soils. The extractable amount of heavy metals by 0.1/1N HCl decreased in order of Cu>Pb>Zn>As>Cd>Cr in mountain soils whereas Pb>Cu>Zn>As>Cd>Cr in paddy soils. Although the extraction ratios were highly various depending on the sampling site, their average values were in order of Cd(16%)>Pb(10%)>Cu(9%)>As(4.5%)>Zn-Cr(${\le}2.5%$). The soils investigated were enriched in heavy metals relative to the averages of earth crust as In order of $As{\ge}Cd$>Pb>Zn>Cu>Cr. Pollution index calculated from total or extractable heavy metals of soils indicated that the heavy metal pollution was restricted to mountain soils around abandoned Cu mines, especially the Samsan I mine. The metal contents of brown rice showed no significantly contaminated level as follows; As $nd{\sim}0.87mg/kg,\;Cd\;0.02{\sim}0.34mg/kg,\;Cu\;1.01{\sim}6.25mg/kg,\;Mn\;13.4{\sim}43.2mg/kg,\;Pb\;0.09{\sim}2.83mg/kg,\;and\;Zn\;16.5{\sim}79.1mg/kg$. From the extraction and dispersion properties of heavy metal with the soil pH ($4.5{\sim}7.8$), it can be deduced the conclusion that the heavy metal pollution is spreading in the study area mainly by the detrital migration of waste ore and gangue minerals rather than the dissolution and circulation of heavy metal.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.134-140
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• 2005

Boiling point and distillation range, melting range, and identification methods in general test method of Korea, Japan, Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee of Food Additives (JECFA), and USA on chemical food additives were compared. Boiling point of propylene glycol was indicated as boiling point in Korea, distillate in Japan, distillation range in JECFA and USA, and its value was up to the standard. Distillation range of propionic acid was indicated as distillate in Korea and Japan, distillation range in JECFA and USA, and its value was up to the standard. There is no standard on distillation range of isopropyl alcohol in Japanese method. Test method of melting range on synthetic food additives was identical in all organizations, and there are 28 items to which this test method applies in Korean Food Additives Code. The standards on molting range of D-mannitol were different in various organizations, and in USA method there are no standards to which L-ascorbic acid, calciferol, and fumaric acid apply. Synthetic food additives performing the identification test were 251 items in Korean Food Additives Code, but there are no items to which manganese, glycerophosphate, bromate, thiosulfate, and bromide apply. Calcium benzoate was dissolved by heating in benzoate test and we could not identify the citrate in ferric citrate by method (2) of Korea and Japan. Identification test methods for ammonium, lactate, magnesium, copper, sulfate, phosphate, and zinc were identical in all organizations, and these could be identifed by current identification methods.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.373-379
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• 2001

The weathering rates and change of chemical composition of 6 residual Entisols derived from granite, granite-gneiss, limestone, sandstone, shale, amd basalt in Korea were studied. The chemical composition of each profile with parent rocks were determined using XRF with the physico-chemical properties and the morphology of soils. In the A horizons of all the soils except Euiseong series, the content of clay, organic matter and cation exchange capacity(CEC) showed higher than those of C horizon, but bulk density and pH showed lower than C horizon. Clay content in the soil from sandstone was decrease with soil depth, which may caused by the elluriation. In total element analysis. $SiO_2$ was high in the soil from granite. granite-gneiss, sandstone and compare with basalt and limestone. $Fe_2O_3$ and MgO was high in the soil from basalt, limestone and shale compare with granite. granite-gneiss and sandstone. And ignition loss was particularly high in the soil from basalt and limestone. The rate of element loss was higher in base cations(Ca, K, Mg, Na) than Si, Al, Fe in the soils. The concentrations of $TiO_2$ in the A horizon compare with that of the C horizon was due to resulting from losses of other less stable elements existed. Considering with relative rate of each elements in soils, $SiO_2$ and $Al_2O_3$ which originated from sandstone and granite, granite-gneiss, sandstone, shale, and basalt were lost higher than those from lime tone, but loss of basic cations were more in the soil from limestone which may be rapid weathering of calcite. The magnitude of losses of the overall elements were increased in the order of the soils from sandstone and granite ${\gg}$ limestone and shale) granite-gneiss and basalt.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.138-148
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• 2004

Purpose: Regardless of the underlying diseases, the proteinuric condition demonstrates ultrastructural changes in podocytes with retraction and effacement of the highly specialized interdigitating foot processes. We examined the molecular basis for this alteration of the podocyte phenotypes, including quantitative and distributional changes of ZO-1 protein as a candidate contributing to the pathogenic changes in the barrier to protein filtration. Methods: To investigate whether high glucose and advanced glycosylation endproduct(AGE) induce podocyte cytoskeletal changes, we cultured rat GEpC under 1) normal glucose(5 mM=control) or 2) high glucose(30 mM) or 3) AGE-added or 4) high glucose plus AGE-added conditions. The distribution of ZO-1 was observed by confocal microscope and the change of ZO-1 expression was measured by Western blotting and RT-PCR. Results: By confocal microscopy, we observed that ZO-1 moves from peripheral cytoplasm to inner actin filaments complexes in both AGE-added and high glucose condition. In Western blotting, high glucose or AGE-added condition decreased the ZO-1 protein expression by 11.1%(P>0.05) and 2.3%(P>0.05), respectively compared to the normal glucose condition. High glucose plus AGE-added condition further decreased ZO-1 protein expression to statistically significant level(12%, P<0.05). No significant change was seen in the osmotic control. In RT-PCR, high glucose plus AGE-added condition significantly decreased the expression of ZO-1 mRNA by 12% compared to normal glucose condition. Conclusion: We suggest that both high glucose and AGE-added condition induce the cytoplasmic translocation and suppresses the production of ZO-1 at transcriptional level and these changes may explain the functional changes of podocytes in diabetic conditions.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.291-297
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• 2010

This study examined the dosimetric influence of implanted gold markers in proton therapy and the effects of their positions in the spread-out Bragg peak (SOBP) proton beam. The implanted cylindrical gold markers were 3 mm long and 1.2 mm in diameter. The dosimetric influence of the gold markers was determined with markers at various locations in a proton-beam field. Spatial dose distributions were measured using a three-dimensional moving water phantom and a stereotactic diode detector with an effective diameter of 0.5 mm. Also, a film dosimetry was performed using Gafchromic External Beam Treatment (EBT) film. The GEANT4 simulation toolkit was used for Monte-Carlo simulations to confirm the measurements and to construct the dose-volume histogram with implanting markers. Motion data were obtained from the portal images of 10 patients to investigate the effect of organ motions on the dosimetric influence of markers in the presence of a rectal balloon. The underdosed volume due to a single gold marker, in which the dose was less than 95% of a prescribed amount, was 0.15 cc. The underdosed volume due to the presence of a gold marker is much smaller than the target volume. However, the underdosed volume is inside the gross tumor volume and is not smeared out due to translational prostate motions. The positions of gold markers and the conditions of the proton-beam field give different impacts on the dose distribution of a target with implanted gold markers, and should be considered in all clinical proton-based therapies.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.239-244
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• 2008

To evaluate the acidity and chemical characteristics of rainwater in Korea, its pH and ion concentrations were investigated in Suwon from April to December, 2006. In addition, to estimate the contribution of ions on its acidity, ion composition and neutralization effect of major cations were investigated. Ion balance and electrical conductivity balance between measured and estimated values showed a high correlation. The mean pH and EC in rainwater collected during the investigation periods were 4.7 and $17.6{\mu}S\;cm^{-1}$, respectively. The monthly variation in EC showed a clear seasonal pattern, which had the lowest value of $9.1{\mu}S\;cm^{-1}$ in July and increased remarkably in November. $Na^+$ was the most abundant cation and followed by $NH_4{^+}>Ca^{2+}>H^+>Mg^{2+}>K^+$. Among them, $Na^+$ and $NH_4{^+}$ accounted for more than 65% of the total cations. In case of anions, the relative abundance was $SO_4{^{2-}}>NO_3{^-}>Cl^-$. About 67% of the total anions in rainwater was $SO_4{^{2-}}$, which showed $119.0{\mu}eq\;L^{-1}$ as mean value during the monitoring periods. Furthermore, 94% of the soluble sulfate in rainwater was identified as nss-$SO_4{^{2-}}$(non-sea salt sulfate). We also found that $NH_4{^+}$ and $Ca^{2+}$ contributed greatly in neutralizing the rain acidity, especially in dry season.

• Journal of the Korea Concrete Institute
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• v.19 no.5
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• pp.613-621
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• 2007

Due to the increasing significance of durability, much researches on carbonation, one of the major deterioration phenomena are carried out. However, conventional researches based on fully hardened concrete are focused on prediction of carbonation depth and they sometimes cause errors. In contrast with steel members, behaviors in early-aged concrete such as porosity and hydrates (calcium hydroxide) are very important and may be changed under carbonation process. Because transportation of deteriorating factors is mainly dependent on porosity and saturation, it is desirable to consider these changes in behaviors in early-aged concrete under carbonation for reasonable analysis of durability in long term exposure or combined deterioration. As for porosity, unless the decrease in $CO_2$ diffusion due to change in porosity is considered, the results from the prediction is overestimated. The carbonation depth and characteristics of pore water are mainly determined by amount of calcium hydroxide, and bound chloride content in carbonated concrete is also affected. So Analysis based on test for hydration and porosity is recently carried out for evaluation of carbonation characteristics. In this study, changes in porosity and hydrate $(Ca(OH)_2)$ under carbonation process are performed through the tests. Mercury Intrusion Porosimetry (MIP) for changed porosity, Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA) for amount of $(Ca(OH)_2)$ are carried out respectively and analysis technique for porosity and hydrates under carbonation is developed utilizing modeling for behavior in early-aged concrete such as multi component hydration heat model (MCHHM) and micro pore structure formation model (MPSFM). The results from developed technique is in reasonable agreement with experimental data, respectively and they are evaluated to be used for analysis of chloride behavior in carbonated concrete.

• Journal of Korean Ophthalmic Optics Society
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.83-87
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• 2007

This study was classified and compared astigmatism's refractional abnormal degrees with visual acuity state of full correction which turned on axises of only 5 degree, 10 degree, and 15 degree. Subjects of this study were 57 college students (114 eyes) who had neither eye diseases nor binocular abnormality, were from their twenties to fifties, with myopia. It appeared that 30.8% of subjects who had astigmatism wore glasses with wrong axis of astigmatism. After accurate correction of the visual acuity and degrees of astigmatism, when we moved to corrected axises at 5 degree, 10 degree, 15 degree, failure of visual acuity with one line or more were 56.1%, 84.2%, 93.8%, respectively. When we comapre the completely-corrected visual acuity with the visual acuity with dricted axes, the bigger the width of visual acuity's weakness was the bigger the drifted angle. The change of normal visual acuity according to drifting angle of corrected axises of astigmatism, when we compared with full correction, appeared 0.94 in 5 degree, 0.87 in 10 degree, and 0.79 in 15 degree. Drift of 5 degree from fully corrected axis, corresponded to difference of visual acuity about one line, drift of 10 degree to 1.8 line difference of visual acuity, and drift of 15 degree about to 2.6 line difference. Through this study, we were sure that, in the case of drifting away from the right axis of astigmatism, it lead to visual weakness and asthenopia. Therefore we darely advise that optometrists should make mistake of axis least by confirming accucacy of corrected axis after despensing of spectacles of astigmatism.