• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.93-102
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• 2020

The design of large complex mechanical systems, such as automobile, aircraft, and ship, is a kind of Multidisciplinary Design Optimization (MDO) because it requires both experience and expertise in many areas. With the rapid development of technology and the demand to improve human convenience, the complexity of these systems is increasing further. The design of such a complex system requires an integrated system design, i.e., MDO, which can fuse not only domain-specific knowledge but also knowledge, experience, and perspectives in various fields. In the past, the MDO relied heavily on the designer's intuition and experience, making it less efficient in terms of accuracy and time efficiency. Process integration and the design optimization framework mainly support MDO owing to the evolution of IT technology. This paper examined the procedure and methods to implement an efficient MDO with reasonable effort and time using RCE, an open-source PIDO framework. As a benchmarking example, the authors applied the proposed MDO methodology to a bulk carrier's conceptual design synthesis model. The validity of this proposed MDO methodology was determined by visual analysis of the Pareto optimal solutions.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.51-58
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• 2016

Objectives: Oldenlandia diffusa is traditionally used to relieve the symptoms of and to treat various diseases, but its anti-cancer activity has not been well studied. In the present study, the authors investigated the anti-cancer effects of an ethanol extract of Oldenlandia diffusa (EOD) on HT-29 human adenocarcinoma cells. Methods: Cells were treated with different concentrations of an EOD, and cell death was assessed by using a 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. Analyses of the sub G1 peak, the caspase-3 and -9 activities, and the mitochondrial membrane depolarizations were conducted to confirm cell death by apoptosis. Also, intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation was determined using carboxy-H2DCFDA (5-(and-6)-carboxy-20,70-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate). Results: EOD inhibited the proliferation of HT-29 cells for 24 hours by $78.6%{\pm}8.1%$ at $50{\mu}g/mL$, $74.4%{\pm}4.6%$ at $100{\mu}g/mL$, $65.9%{\pm}5.2%$ at $200{\mu}g/mL$, $51.4%{\pm}6.2%$ at $300{\mu}g/mL$, and by $41.7%{\pm}8.9%$ at $400{\mu}g/mL$, and treatment for 72 hours reduced the proliferation at the corresponding concentrations by $43.3%{\pm}8.8%$, $24.3{\pm}5.1mV$, $13.5{\pm}3.2mV$, $6.5{\pm}2.3mV$, and by $2.6{\pm}2.3mV$. EOD increased the number of cells in the sub-G1 peak in a dose-dependent manner. The mitochondrial membrane depolarization was elevated by EOD. Also, caspase activities were dose-dependently elevated in the presence of EOD, and these activities were repressed by a pan-caspase inhibitor (zVAD-fmk). The ROS generation was significantly increased by EOD and N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC; a ROS scavenger) remarkably abolished EOD-induced cell death. In addition, a combination of sub-optimal doses of EOD and chemotherapeutic agents noticeably suppressed the growth of HT-29 cancer cells. Conclusion: These results indicate that EOD might be an effective chemotherapeutic for the treatment of human colorectal cancer.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.58-65
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• 2000

Objective : Thoracolumbar junction is second most common level of injury next to cervical spine. The object of this study is to study the usefulness of surgical titanium mesh instead of bone graft, as well as to evaluate the correction of spinal deformity and safety of early ambulation in patients with injury at thoracolumbar junction. Patients and Methods : This review included 51 patients who were operated from July 1994 to December 1997. The injured spine is considered to be unstable, if it shows involvement of two or more columns, translatory displacement more than 3.5mm, decrease more than 35% in height of vertebral body and progression of malalignment in serial X-ray. The decision to operate was determined by (1) compression of spinal cord or cauda eguina, (2) unstable fracture, (3) malalignment and (4) fracture dislocation. The procedure consisted of anterior decompression through corpectomy and internal fixation with anterior instrument and surgical titanium mesh which was impacted with gathered bone chip from corpectomy. Results : Fifty-one patients were followed up for at least 12 months. The main causes of injury were fall and vehicle accident. The twelfth thoracic and the first and the second lumbar vertebrae were frequently involved. Complete neural decompression was possible under direct vision in all cases. Kyphotic angulation occurred in a patient. Radiologic evaluation showed correction of deformity and no distortion or loosening of surgical titanium mesh with satisfactory fixation postoperatively. Conclusions : We could obtain neurological improvement, relief of pain, immediate stabilization and early return to normal activities postoperatively. Based on these results, authors recommend anterior decompression and internal fixation with surgical titanium mesh in thoracolumbar unstable spine injuries.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Clinical Toxicology
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.62-70
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• 2015

Purpose: Cardiac complications may occur in cases of organophosphate (OP) poisoning. However, a few studies regarding patterns of cardiac toxicity as determined by transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) after exposure to OP have been reported. In the current study, the authors examined cardiac functions using TTE in patients with myocardial injury caused by exposure to OP. Methods: A retrospective review was conducted on 16 consecutive cases of OP poisoning with myocardial injury (defined as elevated troponin I within 48 hours of arrival at the regional emergency center in South Korea and diagnosed and treated at the center from January 2012 to November 2014. Results: TTE was performed in 11 (69%) of the 16 patients with an elevated troponin I (TnI) level within 48 hours. Of these 11 patients, 5 patients (45.5%) exhibited reduced ejection fraction (EF), and 3 exhibited regional wall motion abnormality (RWMA). Two patients (18.2%) had both reduced systolic function and RWMA. Two of the 5 patients with reduced EF returned to normal systolic function, however two patients did not regain normal systolic function after admission. One patient expired due to multiple organ failure, and 4 patients were transferred with a moribund status. Twelve of 15 patients who survived to discharge (at 4 to 35 months) were followed. Five of these patients died during follow-up and 7 survived without further complications. Conclusion: OP can cause reversible cardiac dysfunction including reduced systolic function and RWMA. Serum TnI may be useful for initial assessment of cardiac function during the workup of patients suffering from OP poisoning. After the initial assessment of cardiac enzyme, further evaluation with TTE in patients with abnormal cardiac enzyme will be necessary to understand the cardiac toxicity.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.55-64
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• 1998

In recent, the demand of development of the high dose rate brachytherapy source increased for substitute for Co-60 source by iridium source, since the supplying Co-60 source is very depressed and the high dose rate brachytherapy sources are entirely imported from the abroad. This study investigated the exposure rates and isotropic dose distributions for the Ir-192 source produced from $\^$191/Ir(n,r)$\^$192/Ir by nuclear reactor in Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute. The activity of source was obtained an 1.012 Ci (the initial activity without encapsulation was 2,87Ci) by measurement with encapsuled stainless steel. The exposure rate of provided Ir-192 source was determined on 6.36 ${\pm}$ 0.147 Rm$^2$/h-GBq (2.350 ${\pm}$ 0.054 Rcm$^2$/mCi-hr) within ${\pm}$ 2.2% discrepancy with IC-10 ion chamber (0.14 cc) which was mounted on the acrylic jig to 5, 10 and 20 cm from the center of source. The calculated doses with 22 most significant spectrum lines were corrected with intrinsic efficiency of the germanium detector were compared to measured exposure dose rates within ${\pm}$3.8 % discrepancy. The authors confirmed the high dose rate Ir-192 source could be replaced the long decayed Co-60 source via investigation of the isotropic dose distributions in lateral, source axis and diagonal direction of source center are very closed to within 3% uncertainties. Especially, this exposure rate constant and isotropic dose distribution will be fundamental to build the high dose rate source and develop the computed therapy planning system.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.95-100
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• 2011

Objectives To evaluate the drug interactions between aripiprazole and haloperidol, authors investigated plasma concentrations of those drugs by genotypes. Method Fifty six patients with a confirmed Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders 4th edition diagnosis of schizophrenia were enrolled in this eight-week, double blind, placebo-controlled study. Twenty-eight patients received adjunctive aripiprazole treatment and twenty-eight patients received placebo while being maintained on haloperidol treatment. Aripiprazole was dosed at 15 mg/day for the first 4 weeks, and then 30 mg for the next 4 weeks. The haloperidol dose remained fixed throughout the study. Plasma concentrations of haloperidol and aripiprazole were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) at baseline, week 1, 2, 4 and 8. $^*1$, $^*5$, and $^*10$ B alleles of CYP2D6 and $^*1$ and $^*3$ alleles of CYP3A5 were determined. The Student's T-test, Pearson's Chi-square test, Wilcoxon Rank Sum test and Logistic Regression analysis were used for data analysis. All tests were two-tailed and significance was defined as an alpha < 0.05. Results In the frequency of CYP2D6 genotype, $^*1/^*10$ B type was most frequent (36.5%) and $^*1/^*1$ (30.8%), $^*10B/^*10B$ (17.3%) types followed. In the frequency of CYP3A5 genotype, $^*3/^*3$ type was found in 63.5% of subjects, and $^*1/^*3$ type and $^*1/^*1$ were 30.8% and 5.8% respectively. The plasma levels of haloperidol and its metabolites did not demonstrate significant time effects and time-group interactions after adjunctive treatment of aripiprazole. The genotypes of CYP2D6 and 3A5 did not affect the plasma concentration of haloperidol in this trial. No serious adverse event was found after adding aripiprazole to haloperidol. Conclusion No significant drug interaction was found between haloperidol and aripiprazole. Genotypes of CYP2D6 and 3A5 did not affect the concentration of haloperidol after adding aripiprazole.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.35 no.6
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• pp.663-668
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• 2008

Purpose: Pedicled transverse rectus abdominis myocutaneous(TRAM) flap has been a gold standard for breast reconstruction and one of surgical techniques preferred by many surgeons. The authors examined the course of deep epigastric artery focusing on distance from margins of rectus abdominis to pedicle and location of choke vessels to get minimal muscles during pedicled TRAM flap operation. Methods: Eleven rectus abdominis muscle from nine cadavers were used in this study. Rectus abdominis was separated from the cadavers, deep inferior and superior epigastric artery were isolated and then 8 anatomical landmarks in medial and lateral margins of rectus abdominis were designated. Distance to a pedicle meeting first horizontally was measured and vertical location from umbilicus to choke vessel was determined. In addition, 32 rectus abdominis images of 16 women(average age: 37.2 years old) from 64 channel abdomen dynamic computerized tomography were also examined with the same anatomical landmarks with those of cadavers. Results: Average distance from four landmarks on lateral margin of rectus abdominis to pedicle was 1.9 - 3.4cm and 1.8 - 3.8 cm on medial margin. Choke vessel was located between middle and inferior tendinous intersection in all cases and average distance between two tendinous intersection was 6.7 - 7.0 cm on medial margin and 6.2 cm on lateral margin. Location of inferior tendinous intersection was on umbilicus or superior of it in all cases and its average distance from umbilicus was 1.8 - 5.6 cm on medial margin and 2.7 - 6.2 cm on lateral margin. Conclusion: Distance from medial and lateral margins of rectus abdominis muscle to pedicle was the shortest in inferior tendinous intersection and that was averagely 1.8 cm on medial margin and 1.9 cm in average on lateral margin. All choke vessels were located between middle and inferior tendinous intersection.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.41-46
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• 2000

Purpose: It is important to have the epidemiologic data of rotavirus serotypes for the application of polyvalent rotavirus vaccines. Epidemiological studies of rotavirus serotypes in Korea have been reported only in limited areas with small number of cases. Authors tried to investigate the distribution of rotavirus G serotypes in ChungJu area with RT-PCR. Method: Stool specimens were collected from 202 children with acute diarrheal symptoms, who admitted to or visited Kon-Kuk University Hospital in ChungJu from June 1998 to May 1999. Samples were screened for rotavirus with EIA method (TestPack Rotavirus, Abbott Laboratories) and rotavirus G Serotypes were determined by RT-PCR. Results: Rotavirus was positive in 46.6%. The incidence of G serotypes was as follows; G1 10%, G2 10%, G3 28%, G4 26%, and G9 20%. There were three cases of multiple serotypes; G1 with G9, G2 with G9, and G4 with G9. Serotype of G8 was not found. Conclusion: The proportion of G serotypes in ChungJu is much different from previous reports. Serotype of G9 was found which had not been reported in Korean children till now. Long term plans for the investigation of rotavirus serotypes must be needed in wide area.

• Journal of Korean Society of Water and Wastewater
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• v.20 no.5
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• pp.727-736
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• 2006

Granular activated carbon (GAC) has been identified as a best available technology (BAT) by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) for removal disinfection by-product (DBP) precursors, such as dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and dissolved organic nitrogen (DON). Rapid small-scale column test (RSSCT) were used to investigate four types of carbon (F400, Norit1240, Norit40S, and Aquasorb1500) for their affinity to absorb natural organic matter (NOM). DOC, $UV_{254}$, and Total dissolved nitrogen (TON) concentrations were measured in the column effluent to track GAC breakthrough. DOC and $UV_{254}$ breakthrough occurred at around 3500 bed volumes (BVs) of operation for all GACs investigated. The $UV_{254}$ breakthrough curves showed 33% to 48% at 8000 BVs, when the DOC was 48% to 65%. All GACs showed greater removal in DOC than $UV_{254}$. The NORIT1240 GAC was determined to have the highest adsorption capacity for DOC and $UV_{254}$. The removal of nitrate (NOTN) had not broken through over BVs. The initial TON breakthrough curves were started around 50%, when the DOC breakthrough was only 10 % at 500 BVs. The curves were gradually increased after 3500 BVs and approximately 69% through 81% of TON breakthrough occurred at 8000 BVs. All of the GACs were able to remove TON, in the case of this investigation the majority of the TON was present as DON. Because nitrate nitrogen was seldom removed and ammonium nitrogen ($NH_3-N$) was not detected in the effluent from RSSCTs even though raw water. The carbon usage rate of DOC was from 2 to 6 times less than that of TON. The NORIT1240 GAC demonstrated the best performance in terms of DOC removal, while the F400 GAC was best in terms of TON removal. Excitation emission matrix(EEM) analysis was used to show that GAC adsorption successfully removed most of Humic-like DOC and Fulvic-like DOCs. However, soluble microbial product(SMP)-like DOC in the absence of raw water were detected in the NORIT40S and Aquasorb1500 GAC. The authors assumed that this results is due probably to the part of GAC in the RSSCT which was converted into biological activated carbon(BAC). To compare with organics removal by GAC according to preloading, the virgin GACs had readily accessible sites that were adsorbed DOC more rapidly than preloaded GACs, but the TDN removal had not showed differences between those GACs.

• Anxiety and mood
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.135-141
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• 2008

Objective : The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between the pattern of computer game play and emotional and behavioral characteristics of 5th and 6th grade elementary school children in Jeonju city. Methods : Fifth and sixth graders from two elementary schools (N=413, M=214, F=199) were chosen to participate in this study. The participants completed self-report questionnaires designed by the authors, and were also evaluated based on a computer game addiction scale, state-trait anxiety inventory for children, children's depression inventory and Piers-Harris children's self-esteem scale. The parents of the participants determined the disruptive behavior rating scale of the participants. Results : Positive links were reported between the pattern of computer game play (years of computer game experience, average length of each computer game play session, average time spent on computer game play per day, and average frequency of computer game play per week) and scores of computer game addiction scale. In addition, significant correlation was found between the internalized problems of children (trait anxiety, state anxiety, depression, and self-esteem), and computer game addiction scale score, among both sexes (p<0.01). There were significant correlations between game addiction scale score and inattention (p<0.01) as well as total attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) score (p<0.05) in girls. Conclusion : Our findings suggest that computer game addiction is related to symptoms of internalizing, particularly to the trait anxiety. Significant positive correlations between game addiction scale score and externalized behavioral problems were found only in girls.