• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.191-197
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• 2020

The aims of this study were to analyze canine pyometra cases at Veterinary Medical Center of Chungbuk National University, and to identify prognostic factors of canine pyometra at the stage of diagnosis. Records of cases about intact female dogs presented to Veterinary Medical Center from 2005 to 2019 were used for analysis. A total of 147 intact female dogs with canine pyometra were analyzed from outpatients' caseload. Median outbreak age was 9.6 years (range, 8 months to 17 years). The highest prevalence of pyometra over 14 years was observed in Maltese (22.4%, n = 33). Urologic disorders (21.8%, n = 32) including acute renal failure and cystic calculi were the most frequently observed concurrent disorders in dogs with pyometra. In other cases of pyometra, tumor (15.0%, n = 29), cardiovascular disorders (15.0%, n = 22) and systemic disorders (10.9%, n = 16) were accompanied with pyometra. The concentrations of BUN, creatinine and glucose were higher than reference range in cases of poor prognosis. According to the binominal logistic regression analysis, prognosis in pyometra was related to abdominal distension (p = 0.036), urologic disorder (p = 0.016), gastrointestinal disorder (p = 0.001), and serum level of blood urea nitrogen (BUN) (p = 0.045). This study describes that prognosis of canine pyometra can be predicted at the stage of diagnosis by abdominal distension, urologic disorder, gastrointestinal disorder, and serum level of BUN.

• Mass Spectrometry Letters
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.59-64
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• 2017

In clinical diagnosis, it's well known that the abnormal level of uric acid (UA) in human body is implicated in diverse human diseases, for instance, chronic heart failure, gouty arthritis, diabetes, and so on. As a primary method, an isotope dilution mass spectrometry (IDMS) has been used to obtain the accurate quantity of UA in blood or serum and also develop the certificated reference material (CRM) so as to provide a SI-traceability to clinical laboratories. Due to the low solubility of UA in water, an ammonium hydroxide ($NH_4OH$) has been considered as a promising solvent to increase the solubility of UA that enables the preparation of both UA and its isotope standard solution for next IDMS-based absolute quantification. But, because of using this $NH_4OH$ solvent, it gives rise to the unwanted degradation of UA. In this study, we sought to optimize condition for the stability of UA in $NH_4OH$ solution by varying the mole ratios of UA to $NH_4OH$, followed by ID-LC-MRM analysis. In addition, we also inspected minutely the effect of the storage temperatures. Additionally, we also performed the quantitative analysis of UA in the KRISS serum certificated reference material (CRM, 111-01-02A) with diverse mixing ratios of UA to $NH_4OH$ and then compared those values to its certification value. Based on our experiments, adjusting the mole ratio of 1/2 ($UA/NH_4OH$) with the storage temperature of $-20^{\circ}C$ is an effective way to secure both the solubility and stability of UA in $NH_4OH$ solution for next IDMS-based quantification of UA in serum.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.59 no.7
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• pp.298-302
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• 2016

Purpose: Recent reports showed that plasma N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) could be a useful biomarker of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) unresponsiveness and coronary artery lesion (CAL) development in Kawasaki disease (KD). The levels of these peptides are critically influenced by age; hence, the normal range and upper limits for infants and children are different. We performed an age-adjusted analysis of plasma NT-proBNP level to validate its clinical use in the diagnosis of KD. Methods: The data of 131 patients with KD were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were divided into 2 groups-group I (high NT-proBNP group) and group II (normal NT-proBNP group)-comprising patients with NT-proBNP concentrations higher and lower than the 95th percentile of the reference value, respectively. We compared the laboratory data, responsiveness to IVIG, and the risk of CAL in both groups. Results: Group I showed significantly higher white blood cell count, absolute neutrophil count, C-reactive protein level, aspartate aminotransferase level, and troponin-I level than group II (P<0.05). The risk of CAL was also significantly higher in group I (odds ratio, 5.78; P=0.012). IVIG unresponsiveness in group I was three times that in group II (odds ratio, 3.35; P= 0.005). Conclusion: Age-adjusted analysis of plasma NT-proBNP level could be helpful in predicting IVIG unresponsiveness and risk of CAL development in patients with KD.

• Journal of Home Health Care Nursing
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• v.2
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• pp.19-34
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• 1995

The purpose of this study was to analysis level on family caregiver's burden for the elderly with chronic disease in a rural area and to choose priority care group, thereby facilitating the development of interventions to reduce the caregiver's burden. For this purpose, data were collected by questionaire from June 10 to October 8, 1994. The instruments for data collection were Caregiver Burden Inventory by Novak(1989) and Zarit et al(1982), severity of dementia by Hughes Scales(1982), ADL by Lawton(1971), patients' family caregiving activity by pre-survey and reference review(Lee, 1993 ; Jang, 1990 ; Yoo, 1982). The subjects were 213 family caregiver of elderly with chronic disease in a rural area. The data was analysed by the use of t-test, ANOVA, correlation and multiple regression. The results were as follows ; 1. Total burden was evaluated below average, the mean of family burden was 46.98. By the diagnostic classification, Hypertension was 27.37, DM 32.46, CVA 62.96, Dementia 61.24. 2. Significant variables which were correlated to the family caregiver's burden were the patient's disease diagnosis (F=33.82, p<0.001), severity of dementia(F=30.52, p<0.001), the status of disease management(F=11.53, p<0.001), ADL(F=10.54, p<0.001), PADL(F=7.50, p<0.001), income(F=7.17, p<0.001), caregiver's health status(F=24.53, p<0.001), a view of patient's prognosis (F=22.17, p<0.001), relationship with the patient(F=33.82, p<0.001), the number of hours per day spent on caregiving(F=77.52, p<0.001), level of intimacy of caregiver and patients(F=8.75, p<0.001), level of helping(F=4.90, p<0.01), the frequency of caregiving activity(F=3.80, p<0.01), the number of admission(F=5.54, p<0.01), the length of caregiving(F=4.43, p<0.01), other chronic patient in family(t=2.81, p<0.01), caregiver's job(F=3.11, p<0.01), the duration of illness(F=2.98, p<0.05), caregiver's religion(F=2.93, p<0.05), medical security(F=3.89, p<0.05), caregiving's helper(t=2.42, p<0.05). 3. PADL was the most important predictor to family caregiver burden(R2=0.6611). In addition to this, IADL, caregiver's health status, the length of caregiving. level of intimacy of caregiver and patients, patient's age, the patient's disease diagnosis and patient's job accounted for 76% of family caregiver burden. 4. The criteria of priority care group were as follows ; the mean of family caregiver burden was above 58, above of moderate ADL, the number of hours per day spent on caregiving above of 8 hours, above of moderate dementia. By the diagnostic classification, number of priority care group, Hypertension was 4 (8.0%), DM 4(8.0%), CVA 34(64.1%), Dementia 45(75.0%).

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.5
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• pp.2149-2152
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• 2012

Objective: This study was performed to assess prostate biomarkers with reference to body mass index and duration of prostate cancer. Materials and Methods: A hospital based retrospective study was undertaken using data retrieved from the register maintained in the Department of Biochemistry of Manipal Teaching Hospital, Pokhara, Nepal between $1^{st}$ January, 2009 and $28^{th}$ February, 2012. Biomarkers studied were prostate specific antigen (PSA), acid phosphatase (ACP) and prostatic acid phosphatase (PAP), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and gamma glutamyl transpeptidase (${\gamma}GT$). Demographic data including age, duration of disease, body weight, height and body mass index (BMI) were also collected. Duration of disease was categorized into three groups: <1 year, 1-2years and >2 years. Similarly, BMI ($kg/m^2$) was categorized into three groups: <23 $kg/m^2$, 23-25 $kg/m^2$ and >25 $kg/m^2$. Descriptive statistics and testing of hypothesis were used for the analysis using EPI INFO and SPSS 16 software. Results: Out of 57 prostate cancers, serum level of PSA, ACP and PAP were increased above the cut-off point in 50 (87.5%), 30 (52.63%) and 40 (70.18%) respectively. Serum levels of PSA, ACP and PAP significantly declined with the duration of disease after diagnosis. We observed significant and inverse relation between PSA and BMI. Similar non-signficiant tendencies were apparent for ACP and PAP. Conclusions: Decreasing levels of prostate biomarkers were found with the duration of prostate cancer and with increased BMI. Out of prostate biomarkers, PSA was found to be significantly decreased with the duration of disease and BMI.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.683-696
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• 2017

In this study, the reliability of nonlinear ultrasonic modulation based fatigue crack detection is improved using a feature-level data fusion approach. When two ultrasonic inputs at two distinct frequencies are applied to a specimen with a fatigue crack, modulation components at the summation and difference of these two input frequencies appear. First, the spectral amplitudes of the modulation components and their spectral correlations are defined as individual features. Then, a 2D feature space is constructed by combining these two features, and the presence of a fatigue crack is identified in the feature space. The effectiveness of the proposed fatigue crack detection technique is experimentally validated through cyclic loading tests of aluminum plates, full-scale steel girders and a rotating shaft component. Subsequently, the improved reliability of the proposed technique is quantitatively investigated using receiver operating characteristic analysis. The uniqueness of this study lies in (1) improvement of nonlinear ultrasonic modulation based fatigue crack detection reliability using feature-level data fusion, (2) reference-free fatigue crack diagnosis without using the baseline data obtained from the intact condition of the structure, (3) application to full-scale steel girders and shaft component, and (4) quantitative investigation of the improved reliability using receiver operating characteristic analysis.

• Korean Journal of Construction Engineering and Management
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.41-49
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• 2021

Domestic maintenance strategies are shifting from safety assessment to performance assessment, and related systems and laws are being restructured to meet those criteria. In order to introduce asset management based on performance evaluation, related evaluation methods such as performance measures and level of service should be made to evaluate performance according to the characteristics of the structure, but these are not well-prepared in Korea. In this study, we present a computerized model and system for implementing asset management that introduces techniques such as performance evaluation, life cycle cost analysis, performance measures, and level of service in conjunction with existing maintenance and safety diagnosis procedures. The features of this system consist of three modules to enable separate operations of existing maintenance, safety management and asset management. The system is designed to be used as a reference for public institutions to introduce asset management in the future.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Railway
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• v.9 no.4 s.35
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• pp.357-361
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• 2006

This paper dealt with the performance evaluation and the diagnostic techniques of lightning arresters for DC electric traction vehicle. Field Measurements on the protective operation of lightning arresters against surge currents were carried out on running vehicles to acquire the data necessary for the diagnosis. The frequency and the magnitude of surge events were analyzed. Surge currents of $1\sim3$ times were recorded in one running service route and their magnitudes were ranges of $150A\sim2kA$. Also, an acceleration experiment on a lightning arrester by the standard lightning impulse current of 8/20 us and 5 kA was performed to know the aging characteristics. After the surge current application of 3,000 times, the reference voltage decreased by 4.5 %, and the leakage current was below 10 uA at the continuous operating voltage and about 50 uA at the rated voltage. From the experimental results, we propose a decision level of leakage current for the arrester used in this paper and designed an arrester tester which analyzes arrester condition by the magnitude of leakage current.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.49 no.3
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• pp.598-608
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• 2017

A new radiation scale is proposed. With empathy toward the vast majority of people who are not well versed in radiation and related matters, and thus suffering from misunderstanding that breeds unnecessary fear of radiation, the aim of proposing a new radiation scale, radiation index (RAIN), is to put the general public at ease with the concept of radiation. RAIN is defined in dimensionless numbers that relate any specific radiation dose to a properly defined reference level. As RAIN is expressed in plain numbers without an attached scientific unit, the public will feel comfortable with its friendly look, which in turn should help them understand radiation dose levels easily and allay their anxieties about radiation. The expanded awareness and proper understanding of radiation will empower the public to feel that they are not hopeless victims of radiation. The correspondence between RAIN and the specific accumulated dose is established. The equivalence will allow RAIN to serve as a common language of communication for the general public with which they can converse with radiation experts to discuss matters related to radiation safety, radiation diagnosis and therapy, nuclear accidents, and other related matters. Such fruitful dialogues will ultimately enhance public acceptance of radiation and associated technologies.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.47 no.2
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• pp.42-48
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• 2023

An adult male Eurasian river otter (Lutra lutra) with ataxia and lethargy was rescued. Through the necropsy of this otter with neurological symptoms, a broad range of vascular damage caused by mercury toxicity in several organs, hepatocellular necrosis, and vacuolation in the brain. In mercury examination, liver, kidney, and hair showed values of 0.878 ± 0.027, 1.807 ± 0.049, and 5.712 ± 0.102 ㎍/g, respectively. Compared with certified reference material, it was confirmed that the concentration of mercury were 6.7 times, 13.7 times, and 43.3 times higher, respectively. When the symptoms and diagnosis results were comprehensively reviewed, this otter's demise was revealed due to mercury poisoning. The mercury concentration in the liver does not exceed the lowest observed effect level of 3.4 ㎍/g. However, even at low concentrations, long-term accumulation can cause symptoms including neuropathy, and the possibility that these heavy metals have accumulated in other wild animals cannot be ruled out. It seems that continuous monitoring using sentinel animals is necessary.