• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.10-16
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• 2015

Bone changes are common sequela of irradiation in growing animal. The purpose of this study was to establish an experimental model of radiation-induced bone loss in growing mice using micro-computed tomography (${\mu}CT$). The extent of changes following 2 Gy gamma irradiation ($2Gy{\cdot}min^{-1}$) was studied at 4, 8 or 12 weeks after exposure. Mice that received 0.5, 1.0, 2.0 or 4.0 Gy of gamma-rays were examined 8 weeks after irradiation. Tibiae were analyzed using ${\mu}CT$. Serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and biomechanical properties were measured and the osteoclast surface was examined. A significant loss of trabecular bone in tibiae was evident 8 weeks after exposure. Measurements performed after irradiation showed a dose-related decrease in trabecular bone volume fraction (BV/TV) and bone mineral density (BMD), respectively. The best-fitting dose-response curves were linear-quadratic. Taking the controls into accounts, the lines of best fit were as follows: BV/TV (%) = $0.9584D^2-6.0168D+20.377$ ($r^2$ = 0.946, D = dose in Gy) and BMD ($mg{\cdot}cm^{-3}$) = $8.8115D^2-56.197D+194.41$ ($r^2$ = 0.999, D = dose in Gy). Body weight did not differ among the groups. No dose-dependent differences were apparent among the groups with regard to mechanical and anatomical properties of tibia, serum ALP and osteoclast activity. The findings provide the basis required for better understanding of the results that will be obtained in any further studies of radiation-induced bone responses.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.390-394
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• 1993

Background: Bronchiectasis is characterized by chronic sputum production and complications such as hemoptysis and repeated infections. Even though some patients are cured by surgical resection of bronchiectatic lesions, most bronchiectasis patients can not be treated surgically because of multiple site involvement, and they are treated by medical measures such as postura1 drainage and antibiotics when indicated. Recently there have been some reports that low-dose longterm erythromycin treatment is effective on bronchiectsis, and it is well known that low-dose longterm erythromycin treatment is the treatment of choice in diffuse panbronchiolitis which is characterized by chronic sputum production and dyspnea. To evaluate the efficacy of erythromycin, we tried erythromycin on twenty five stable bronchiectasis patients for more than six months. Methods: We tried erythromycin 250 mg b.i.d. for more than 6 months. We checked respiratory symptoms, chest PA, spirometry, and side effects before treatment and after 3 and 6 months of treatment. Results: 1) 32% of the patients showed marked improvement of symptoms and PFT. 32% showed slight improvement of symptoms with little change of PFT, and 36% showed no change of symptoms and signs. 2) Analysis of the patients showing marked improvement revealed that most of them had diffuse bronchiectasis and paranasal sinus involvement. Conclusion: These results suggest that low-dose longterm erythromycin treatment can be tried on diffuse bronchiectasis patients with sinus involvement. And further studies will be followed on the mechanism of erythromycin in bronchiectasis.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.371-380
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• 2018

Aim of this study was to investigate the effects of different nutrient solutions and various light qualities generated by LED on the growth and glucosinolates contents of watercress (Nasturtium officinale) grown under hydroponics for 3 weeks. The seeds of watercress were sown on crushed rockwool media and raised them for two weeks. They were transplanted in a semi-DFT (deep flow technique) hydroponics system. A controlled-environment room was maintained at $20{\pm}1^{\circ}C$ and $16{\pm}1^{\circ}C$ temperatures and $65{\pm}10%$ and $75{\pm}10%$ relative humidity (day and night, respectively), with a provided photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD) of $180{\pm}10{\mu}mol{\cdot}m^{-2}{\cdot}s^{-1}$ and a photoperiod of 16/8h. To find out the best kinds of nutrient solutions for growing watercress, Otsuka House 1A (OTS), Horticultural Experiment Station in Korea (HES), and Netherland's Proefstaion voor Bloemisterij en Gasgroente (PBG) were adapted with initial EC of $1.0-1.3dS{\cdot}m^{-1}$ and pH of 6.2, irradiating PPFD with fluorescent lamps (Ex-1). Either monochromatic (W10 and R10) or mixed LEDs (R5B1, R3B1, R2B1G1, and W2B1G1) were irradiated with a differing ratio of each LED's PPFD to understanding light quality on the growth and glucosinolates contents of watercress (Ex-2). Although significant difference in the shoot growth of watercress was not found among three nutrient solutions treatments, but the root fresh weight increased by 13.7% and 55.1% in PBG and OTS compared to HES, respectively. OTS increased the gluconasturtiin content by 96% and 65% compared to PBG and HES. Compared with the white light (W10), the red light (R10) showed a 101.3% increase in the shoot length of watercress. Increasing blue light portion positively affected plant growth. The content of total glucosinolates in watercress was increased by 144.5% and 70% per unit dry weight in R3B1 treatment compared with R2B1G1 and W10 treatments, respectively. The growth and total glucosinolates contents of the watercress were highest under R3B1 among six light qualities.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.202-209
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• 2004

Flat panel based digital radiography (DR) systems have recently become useful and important in the field of diagnostic radiology. For DRs with amorphous silicon photosensors, CsI(TI) is normally used as the scintillator, which produces visible light corresponding to the absorbed radiation energy. The visible light photons are converted into electric signal in the amorphous silicon photodiodes which constitute a two dimensional array. In order to produce good quality images, detailed behaviors of DR detectors to radiation must be studied. The relationship between air exposure and the DR outputs has been investigated in many studies. But this relationship was investigated under the condition of the fixed tube voltage. In this study, we investigated the relationship between the DR outputs and X-ray in terms of the absorbed energy in the detector rather than the air exposure using SPEC-l8, an X-ray energy spectrum model. Measured exposure was compared with calculated exposure for obtaining the inherent filtration that is a important input variable of SPEC-l8. The absorbed energy in the detector was calculated using algorithm of calculating the absorbed energy in the material and pixel values of real images under various conditions was obtained. The characteristic curve was obtained using the relationship of two parameter and the results were verified using phantoms made of water and aluminum. The pixel values of the phantom image were estimated and compared with the characteristic curve under various conditions. It was found that the relationship between the DR outputs and the absorbed energy in the detector was almost linear. In a experiment using the phantoms, the estimated pixel values agreed with the characteristic curve, although the effect of scattered photons introduced some errors. However, effect of a scattered X-ray must be studied because it was not included in the calculation algorithm. The result of this study can provide useful information about a pre-processing of digital radiography.

• Sleep Medicine and Psychophysiology
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.88-102
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• 1998

Objectives : We attempted to study obstructive sleep apnea symptoms prevalence and sleep apnea-associated factors in Korean rural adult population. Methods : In 1,441 adult subjects of three rural communities selected by cluster sampling, we administered an epidemiologic survey using questionnaire methods from July 14, 1996 to July 28, 1996. Results : 1) In 14.1% of the subjects, snoring was reported to occur almost daily and 2.9% of the subjects reported sleep apnea symptoms occurring almost daily. 2) Snoring and sleep apnea symptoms were found more frequently in males or in mid-aged group(45 - 64 years old) than in females or in younger- and older-aged groups, respectively. Compared with the subjects who have no snoring, the subjects who have snoring or sleep apnea symptoms had greater body mass index(BMI), waist-hip ratio, hemoglobin level, RBC count, and higher diastolic blood pressure. 3) Cigarette smoking and alcohol drinking more than once a week were significantly associated with suffering from sleep apnea symptoms. 4) In multiple logistic regression analysis, being male, mid-aged, and greater BMI were independently associated with the presence of snoring and sleep apnea symptoms. Conclusion : We conclude that, in the Korean rural adult population, males or mid-aged group suffers more from snoring and sleep apnea symptoms than females or younger- and older-aged groups. In addition, being male, mid-aged, and greater BMI were significantly associated independently with the presence of snoring and sleep apnea symptoms.

• The Journal of the Petrological Society of Korea
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.137-151
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• 2013

This study is focused on element behaviors and mineral compositions of the fault rock developed in Yongdang-ri, Yangbuk-myeon, Gyeongju City, Korea, using XRF, ICP, XRD, and EPMA/BSE in order to better understand the chemical variations in fault rocks during the fault activity, with emphasis on dependence of chemical mobility on mineralogy across the fault zone. As one of the main components of the fault rocks, $SiO_2$ shows the highest content which ranges from 61.6 to 71.0%, and $Al_2O_3$ is also high as having the 10.8~15.8% range. Alkali elements such as $Na_2O$ and $K_2O$ are in the range of 0.22~4.63% and 2.02~4.89%, respectively, and $Fe_2O_3$ is 3.80~12.5%, indicating that there are significant variations within the fault rock. Based on the chemical characteristics in the fault rocks, it is evident that the fault gouge zone is depleted in $Na_2O$, $Al_2O_3$, $K_2O$, $SiO_2$, CaO, Ba and Sr, whereas enriched in $Fe_2O_3$, MgO, MnO, Zr, Hf and Rb relative to the fault breccia zone. Such chemical behaviors are closely related to the difference in the mineral compositions between breccia and gouge zones because the breccia zone consists of the rock-forming minerals including quartz and feldspar, whereas the gouge zone consists of abundant clay minerals such as illite and chlorite. The alteration of the primary minerals leading to the formation of the clay minerals in the fault zone was affected by the hydrothermal fluids involved in fault activity. Taking into account the fact that major, trace and rare earth elements were leached out from the precursor minerals, it is assumed that the element mobility was high during the first stage of the fault activity because the fracture zone is interpreted to have acted as a path of hydrothermal fluids. Moving toward the later stage of fault activity, the center of the fracture zone was transformed into the gouge zone during which the permeability in the fault zone gradually decreased with the formation of clay minerals. Consequently, elements were effectively constrained in the gouge zone mostly filled with authigenic minerals including clay minerals, characterized by the low element mobility.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.604-609
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• 2003

In order to investigate the transfer rate of calcium into rice and the effect of soaking conditions-temperature (20, 30, 40, 50 and $60^{\circ}C$, $X_1$), calcium concentration of soaking solution (0, 250, 500, 750 and 1000 mg/L, $X_2$) and soaking time (5, 10, 15, 20 and 25 min, $X_3$), moisture absorption rate, hardness and calcium content of rice after soaking were analyzed. When the soaking temperature and time were increased the moisture absorption rate also increased (p<0.01). Quadratic and interaction effects on the moisture absorption rate among variables were highly significant, within 5%. The predictive model for moisture absorption rate $(Y_1)$ was as follows: $Y=16.14+0.78X_1+1.24X_3-0.23X_1{^2}+0.14X_2{^2}-0.42X_3X_1-0.38X_3{^2}\;(R^2=0.9123)$. Hardness was decreased as soaking time and temperature increased. Calcium contents of soaked rice increased as temperature, the calcium concentration of soaking solution and soaking time were increased (p<0.01). Also the interactive effect between soaking time and calcium concentration of soaking solution was high. The predictive model for calcium content $(Y_3)$ was as follows: $Y_3=470.80+110.87X_1+123.47X_2+52.29X_3-7.42X_1{^2}-14.87X_2{^2}-9.49X_3X_2-20.57X_3{^2}\;(R^2=0.9840)$. From the results in this study, if adults and children take 400 g of calcium enriched rice with 600 mg/kg and $700{\sim}900\;mg/kg$, respectively, they can expect to take more calcium than the recommended intake without other calcium reinforcing agents.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.463-469
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• 2008

During the last decade, monacolin-K biosynthesized by fermentation of red yeast rice (Monascus strains) was proved to have an efficient cholesterol lowering capability, leading to rapid increase in the market demand for the functional red yeast rice. In this study, the production medium composition and components were optimized on a shake flask scale for monacolin-K production by Monascus pilosus (KCCM 60160). The effect of three different soybean flours on the monacolin-K production were studied in order to replace the nitrogen sources of basic production medium (yeast extract, malt extract and beef extract). Among the several experiments, the production medium with dietary soybean flour to replace a half of yeast extract was very good for monacolin-K production. Plackett-Burman experimental design was used to determine the key factors which are critical to produce the biological products in the fermentation. According to the result of Plackett-Burman experimental design, a second order response surface design was applied using yeast extract, beef extract and $(NH_4)_2SO_4$ as factors. Applying this model, the optimum concentration of the three variables was obtained. The maximum monacolin-K production (369.6 mg/L) predicted by model agrees well with the experimental value (418 mg/L) obtained from the experimental verification at the optimal medium. The yield of monacolin-K was increased by 67% as compared to that obtained with basic production medium in shake flasks.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.16 no.9
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• pp.6089-6098
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• 2015

This study purposes to identify the effects of performance of public health services (PHS) and personal characteristics on community image to public hospitals. The subjects of this study were 33 public hospitals and 1,789 community residents. The data of '2011 Public hospital evaluation programme' were utilized in this study. The personal characteristics consisted of nine items which were gender, age, education, occupation, monthly incomes, medical security, use experience, health state, and location type. The PHS performance consisted of five items which were number of doctors, number of nurses, total number of staff, budget per 1,000 community residents, and amount of activities per 1,000 community residents. The cronbach's alpha of community image instrument was 0.916. As the results of logistic regression, the significant variables of community image, were age (OR=0.34, 95% CI=0.19-0.60), education (OR=3.03, 95% CI=1.60-5.76), use experience (OR=0.57, 95% CI=0.40-0.81), health state (OR=0.69 95% CI=0.49-0.96), location type (OR=2.10, 95% CI=1.11-3.99), and amount of activities per 1,000 community residents (OR=0.58, 95% CI=0.35-0.96). Community image is very important to public hospitals. The workforce and budget related PHS were significantly demanded to improve community image. The Central and Local government should support to public hospitals to perform PHS effectively.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.101 no.1
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• pp.121-129
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• 2012

The edge area with burn severity is known as significant factor that has great effects on the ecosystem recovery. However, there is little study on the edge area and its effects in the South Korea. Thus, this study aimed to analyze immediate responses of vegetation following forest fires due to combined effect of burn severity and edge-interior effect. Burn Severity (BS), or ${\Delta}NBR$ values were computed using satellite images of pre and post-forest fire in Samcheock areas. The burn forest was classified 231 $1-km^2$ girds and these grids were further reclassified into 4 groups by BS type (low BS and high BS areas) and forest areas (edge areas and interior areas). These four groups of grids including low BS-interior (group A), low BS-edge (group B), high BS-interior (group C) and high BS-edge (group D). Post-fire vegetation responses measured with (${\Delta}NDVI$) among four groups were then compared and tested by T-test. The results indicated that group C (${\Delta}NDVI$=0.047) and D (${\Delta}NDVI$ = 0.059) showed considerably greater vegetation regeneration than those of low BS areas including group A (${\Delta}NDVI$ = -0.039) and group B (${\Delta}NDVI$ = -0.036). It was also observed that edges areas showed greater vegetation regeneration than interior areas when BS is the same. Group B (${\Delta}NDVI$ = -0.036) showed greater (${\Delta}NDVI$) values than group A (${\Delta}NDVI$ = -0.039) in low BS condition. Similar relationship is observed between group C and group D in high BS condition. Thus adequate restoration practices for burned areas might need to pay close attention to interior areas with low BS to minimize the secondary damages and to rehabilitate the burned forests.