• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Medical Physics Conference
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• 2002.09a
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• pp.53-60
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• 2002

Motion of lung tumors from respiration has been reported in the literature to be as large as of 1-2 cm. This motion requires an additional margin between the Clinical Target Volume (CTV) and the Planning Target Volume (PTV). While such a margin is necessary, it may not be sufficient to ensure proper delivery of Intensity Modulated Radiotherapy (IMRT) to the CTV during the simultaneous movement of the DMLC. Gated treatment has been proposed to improve normal tissues sparing as well as to ensure accurate dose coverage of the tumor volume. The following questions have not been addressed in the literature: a) what is the dose error to a target volume without gated IMRT treatment\ulcorner b) what is an acceptable gating window for such treatment. In this study, we address these questions by proposing a novel technique for calculating the 3D dose error that would result if a lung IMRT plan were delivered without gating. The method is also generalized for gated treatment with an arbitrary triggering window. IMRT plans for three patients with lung tumor were studied. The treatment plans were generated with HELIOS for delivery with 6 MV on a CL2100 Varian linear accelerator with a 26 pair MLC. A CTV to PTV margin of 1 cm was used. An IMRT planning system searches for an optimized fluence map ${\Phi}$ (x,y) for each port, which is then converted into a dynamic MLC file (DMLC). The DMLC file contains information about MLC subfield shapes and the fractional Monitor Units (MUs) to be delivered for each subfield. With a lung tumor, a CTV that executes a quasi periodic motion z(t) does not receive ${\Phi}$ (x,y), but rather an Effective Incident Fluence EIF(x,y). We numerically evaluate the EIF(x,y) from a given DMLC file by a coordinate transformation to the Target's Eye View (TEV). In the TEV coordinate system, the CTV itself is stationary, and the MLC is seen to execute a motion -z(t) that is superimposed on the DMLC motion. The resulting EIF(x,y)is inputted back into the dose calculation engine to estimate the 3D dose to a moving CTV. In this study, we model respiratory motion as a sinusoidal function with an amplitude of 10 mm in the superior-inferior direction, a period of 5 seconds, and an initial phase of zero.

• Journal of Korean Port Research
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.231-240
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• 1997

In the United States, a number of ocean outfalls discharge primary treated effluent into deep sea water and contribute for more efficient wastewater treatment. The long multiport diffuser connected by long pipe from a treatment plant discharge wastewater into deep water due to the steep slope of the sea bed. However, Plume discharged from the diffuser can have significant impacts on coastal communities and possibly immediate consequence on public health. Therefore, there have been growing interests about the dynamics of plume in the vicinity of the ocean outfalls. It is expected that the ocean outfall should be considered for more efficient and reliable wastewater treatments as soon as possible around coastal area in South Korea. A number of studies of plume ynamics have used various models to predict plume behavior. However, in many cases, the calculated values of plume behavior are in significantly poor agreement with realistic values. Therefore, in this study, it is recommended that improvements should be made in the application of the plume model to more simulate the actual discharge characteristics and ocean conditions. It should be noted that input parameters in plume models reflect realistic ocean conditions like waves as well as currents. In this study, as one of the new parameters, current and long wave-influenced plume rise and initial dilution have been taken into account by using simple linear wave theory under some specific assumptions for more reliable plume behavior description. Among the improved plume models approved by EPA (Environmental Protection Agency), the RSB(Roberts-Snyder-Baurngartner) and UM(Updated Merge) models were chosen for the calculation of plume behavior, and the variation calculated by both models on the basis of long period wave was compared in terms of plume rise and initial dilution.

• Information Systems Review
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.69-91
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• 2021

Credit Bureaus in Korea commonly use financial transaction information of the past and present time for calculating an individual's credit scores. Compared to other rating factors, the repayment history information accounts for a larger weights on credit scores. Accordingly, despite full redemption of overdue payments, late payment history is reflected negatively for the assessment of credit scores for certain period of the time. An individual with debt delinquency can be classified into two groups; (1) the individuals who have faithfully paid off theirs overdue debts(Normal Repayment), and (2) those who have not and as differences of creditworthiness between these two groups do exist, it needs to grant relatively higher credit scores to the former individuals with normal repayment. This study is designed to analyze the factors of normal repayment of Korean financial debt delinquents based on credit information of personal loan, overdue payments, redemption from Korea Credit Information Services. As a result of the analysis, the number of overdue and the type of personal loan and delinquency were identified as significant variables affecting normal repayment and among applied methodologies, neural network models suggested the highest classification accuracy. The findings of this study are expected to improve the performance of individual credit scoring model by identifying the factors affecting normal repayment of a financial debt delinquent.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Clinical Toxicology
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.92-107
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• 2023

Purpose: This study investigated the characteristics and treatment outcomes of patients who visited the emergency department due to intoxication and analyzed the impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on their visits. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted using data from the National Emergency Department Information System (NEDIS) on patients who visited the emergency department due to intoxication between January 2014 and December 2020. In total, 277,791 patients were included in the study, and their demographic and clinical data were analyzed. A model was created from 2014 to 2019 and applied to 2020 (i.e., during the COVID-19 pandemic) to conduct a time series analysis distinguishing between unexpected accidents and suicide/self-harm among patients who visited the emergency department. Results: The most common reason for visiting the emergency department was unintentional accidents (48.5%), followed by self-harm/suicide attempts (43.8%). Unexpected accident patients and self-harm/suicide patients showed statistically significant differences in terms of sex, age group, hospitalization rate, and mortality rate. The time series analysis showed a decrease in patients with unexpected accidents during the COVID-19 pandemic, but no change in patients with suicide/self-harm. Conclusion: Depending on the intentionality of the intoxication, significant differences were found in the age group, the substance of intoxication, and the mortality rate. Therefore, future analyses of patients with intoxication should be stratified according to intentionality. In addition, the time series analysis of intentional self-harm/suicide did not show a decrease in 2010 in the number of patients, whereas a decrease was found for unintentional accidents.

• International Journal of Molecular Medicine
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• v.43 no.6
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• pp.2409-2419
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• 2019

The use of finasteride for alleviating hair loss has been investigated, and it has been applied as an oral dose medication. However, due to the inconvenience of daily drug administration over long period of time, novel controllable finasteride delivery has been actively investigated. As a novel method of finasteride delivery, the development of finasteride-loaded microspheres for subcutaneous administration is becoming increasingly pharmaceutically important. Therefore, the present study aimed to use finasteride-loaded microspheres in a controlled manner in an attempt to overcome the limitations of the oral administration of finasteride and to cause fewer adverse effects. Finasteride-loaded microspheres containing poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) and finasteride at a ratio of 4:1 were prepared, and a testosterone-induced androgenic alopecia mouse model was used. Following observation for 10 weeks, the percentage hair growth was 86.7% (total hair growth 60%, partial hair growth 26.7%) in the orally-applied finasteride-treated group as a positive control, and 93.3% (total hair growth 60%, partial hair growth 33.3%) in the finasteride-loaded microspheres-treated group. Serum dihydrotestosterone levels began to decrease at week 6 in the orally-applied finasteride- and finasteride-loaded microsphere-treated groups. In addition, the finasteride-loaded microspheres-treated group exhibited similar follicular number, follicular length, anagen/telogen ratio and hair bulb diameter values to those of the orally-applied finasteride-treated group. Furthermore, the finasteride-loaded microspheres increased the activities of phosphoinositide 3-kinase/protein kinase B and Wnt/β-catenin in relation to hair follicle cell growth signaling in mouse skin, and suppressed the apoptosis of hair follicle cells by reducing the expression of transforming growth factor-β2 and caspase-3, which are indicators of apoptosis. In conclusion, the administration of a single injection of finasteride-loaded microspheres was effective in treating testosterone-induced alopecia. Furthermore, it led to equivalent hair growth effects when compared with orally-applied finasteride, thus revealing the possibility of effective treatment via different routes of administration.

• The Journal of the Convergence on Culture Technology
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• v.4 no.3
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• pp.197-207
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• 2018

The radish skin and radish greens (mucheong) are an edible part of the radish. But they are removed before eating the radish and used as a byproduct or an animal feed material because of their tough and rough texture. This study was conducted to investigate the effect of supercritical heat-treated radish-extract on UV-induced Hos: HRM-2 wrinkled mouse animal model on anti-aging wrinkles. Supercritical heat-treated radish-extract was applied on the back of seven-weeks old HRM-2 mice. The effect of HRE on skin thickness, elasticity and wrinkle formation of the mice was observed by using UVB lamp to induce melanogenesis and wrinkle formation. As the result, increased depth of wrinkles was observed in the negative control group in comparison to the normal group. In contrast, decreased depth of wrinkles was observed in the radish-extract-free group compared to the negative control group. In the study of the effect of radish-extract on wrinkle-formation related gene expression and protein what protein expression, MMP-2 and MMP-2 gene expression significantly increased in the negative control group compared to the normal group. The gene expression reduced independence to the mass of radish-extract treated. Similar to quantitative results of mRNA expression, the expression of MMP-2 protein increased as a result of UVB-irradiation. The MMP-2 expression was inhibited in dependence to the mass of radish-extract treated. In conclusion, the supercritical heat-treated radish-extract has an effect on improving skin wrinkles not only when it is applied to the skin but also when orally ingested. Thus, it can be effectively used as a composition to health functional products. Thereafter, we can also conclude that radish, a food that does not show any side-effects even upon long-term intake, can reduce wrinkle formation as well as improve skin elasticity when taken regularly for a long period.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.40 no.5
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• pp.696-703
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• 2011

We performed a randomized placebo-controlled trial to determine whether or not fermented red ginseng supplementation modulates blood glucose and insulin resistance in type 2 diabetic patients. A total of 38 patients were randomized to either a fermented red ginseng group or placebo group. The patients in the experimental or placebo group consumed 780 mg of fermented red ginseng or cellulose supplement per day for 12 weeks, respectively. Lifestyle factors and dietary intakes of the patients were not altered during the 12-weeks period. In the fermented red ginseng group after 12 weeks, the fasting blood glucose levels were significantly decreased ($136.29{\pm}16.45$ mg/dL to $127.71{\pm}17.74$ mg/dL) and $HbA_1c$ was also decreased. Especially, high HbA1c (HbA1c $\geq$8%, $8.45{\pm}0.56%$ to $7.82{\pm}0.53%$) was significantly decreased compared to low HbA1c (HbA1c <8%, $6.71{\pm}0.85%$ to $6.44{\pm}0.49%$) in the fermented red ginseng group. Serum low-density lipoprotein was slightly decreased in the fermented red ginseng group compared to the placebo group. Homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance was significantly reduced in the fermented red ginseng group compared to the placebo group. These results suggest that fermented red ginseng supplementation could be helpful to reduce blood glucose by improving insulin resistance in type 2 diabetic patients.

• Publications of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.47-63
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• 2021

Variability is one of the major characteristics of Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN), and it is used for understanding the energy generation mechanism in the center of AGN and/or related physical phenomena. It it known that there exists a time lag between AGN light curves simultaneously observed at different wavelengths, which can be used as a tool to estimate the size of the area that produce the radiation. In this paper, We present long term near-infrared variability of optically bright type 1 AGN using the Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer data. From the Milliquas catalogue v6.4, 73 type 1 QSOs/AGN and 140 quasar candidates are selected that are brighter than 18 mag in optical and located within 5 degree around the ecliptic poles. Light curves in the W1 band (3.4 ㎛) and W2 band (4.6 ㎛) during the period of 2010-2019 were constructed for these objects by extracting multi-epoch photometry data from WISE and NEOWISE all sky survey database. Variability was analyzed based on the excess variance and the probability P_var. Applying both criteria, the numbers of variable objects are 19 (i.e., 26%) for confirmed AGN and 12 (i.e., 9%) for AGN candidates. The characteristic time scale of the variability (τ) and the variability amplitude (σ) were derived by fitting the DRW model to W1 and W2 light curves. No significant correlation is found between the W1/W2 magnitude and the derived variability parameters. Based on the subsample that are identified in the X-ray source catalog, there exists little correlation between the X-ray luminosity and the variability parameters. We also found four AGN with changing W1-W2 color.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.53 no.5
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• pp.464-475
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• 2020

Purpose: This study compared the effects of a high glycemic load (high GL) diet and low glycemic load (low GL) diet on the body weight, body fat, blood pressure, and blood lipid indicators. Methods: Twenty-one young adults aged between 21 and 28 years who were overweighted or obese (body mass index [BMI] between 23 and 33.5 kg/㎡) before the study and after calorie reduction diets with either low GL or high GL for 2 weeks each were examined. The study was a randomized crossover design with a 2-week washout period between the 2 types of diet. The order of the low GL and high GL diet periods was randomized. The body weight, body fat, blood pressure, levels of blood lipids, fasting glucose, insulin, homeostatic model assessment (HOMA) insulin, C-peptide, and HOMA C-peptide were measured at the baseline, as well as 2, 4, and 6 weeks after starting the experiment. Results: When subjects were on the low GL diet, they lost more weight than those eating the high GL diet (mean ± SD, -2.77 ± 1.09 vs. -1.56 ± 0.78 kg; p < 0.001); there were greater decreases in body fat mass (-1.62 ± 1.19 vs. -0.88 ± 0.91 kg; p = 0.024) and BMI (-0.95 ± 0.32 vs. -0.56 ± 1.08 kg/㎡; p < 0.001). On the other hand, there were no significant differences in changes in biochemical parameters, such as blood lipids and fasting glucose levels, and blood pressure. The body weight, body fat mass, BMI, percent body fat, blood pressure, cholesterol (total, low-density lipoprotein, and high-density lipoprotein), fasting glucose, C-peptide, HOMA-insulin resistance-C-peptide levels were decreased significantly at 6 weeks. Conclusion: The low GL diet may be more effective in losing body weight, body fat mass, and BMI than the high GL diet for 2 weeks in healthy young overweight or obese adults.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.501-509
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• 2012

The dietary intake of whole grains is known to reduce the incidence of chronic diseases such as obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer. In our previous study, hog millet (HM, $Panicum$ $miliaceum$ L.) water extract showed the highest anti-lipogenic activity among nine cereal types in 3T3-L1 cells. In this study, the effect of hog millet water extract on hepatic steatosis and lipid metabolism in mice fed a high fat diet was investigated. Mice were fed a normal-fat diet (ND), high-fat diet (HFD) or HFD containing 1% or 2% (w/w) HM for 7 weeks. Body weight and food intake were monitored during the study period. Insulin resistance by homeostasis model assessment (HOMA-IR), fasting lipid profile, hepatic fatty acid metabolism-related gene expression determined, and intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test (IGTT) were performed at the study's end. The results indicated that 1% and 2% HM diets effectively decreased liver weights, blood TG and T-cholesterol levels (p<0.05), while the HDL-cholesterol level was increased (p<0.05) compared to HFD-induced steatotsis mice. Hepatic lipogenic-related gene ($PPAR{\alpha}$, L-FABP, and SCD1) expressions decreased, whereas lipolysis- related gene (CPT1) expression increased in animals fed the 2% PME diet (p<0.05). In addition, mice fed 1% or 2% HM diet had markedly decreased IGTT and HOMA-IR, compared to the those of the HFD-induced hepatic steatosis control group (p<0.05). These results indicated that HM inhibited hepatic lipid accumulation by regulating fatty acid metabolism, and suggested that HM is useful in the chemoprevention or treatment of high fat-induced hepatic steatosis and hepatic steatosis-related disorders including hyperlipidemia, glucose sensitivity, and insulin resistance.