• Plant Biotechnology Reports
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• v.2 no.3
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• pp.213-218
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• 2008

Swertia chirata is an endangered gentian species that prefers to grow at higher altitudes. This ethnomedicinal herb is known primarily for its bitter taste caused by the presence of important phytochemicals that are directly associated with human health benefits. Due to a continuous loss of habitat and inherent problems of seed viability and seed germination, alternative strategies for propagation and conservation are urgently required to prevent the possible extinction of this species. We have formulated a reproducible protocol for the rapid propagation and conservation of this plant using leaves taken from in vitro shoot cultures. Direct induction of more than seven shoot buds per explant was achieved for the first time when the explants were placed on MS medium supplemented with $2.22{\mu}M$ N-6-benzyladenine, $11.6{\mu}M$ kinetin, and $0.5{\mu}M$ ${\alpha}-naphthalene$ acetic acid. Direct organogenesis was noted exclusively from the adaxial surface of the basal segments of leaves. Leaves closer to the apical meristem were more responsive than those farther away from the meristem. Plants raised through direct organogenesis were evaluated for their clonal fidelity by chromosomal analysis and DNA fingerprinting. Complete plants were successfully transferred to the field condition and produced viable seeds. Given the enormous potential of this age-old medicinal plant in terms of potential health-benefitting drugs, this protocol can be used for commercial propagation purposes and to initiate future genetic improvement studies.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.39 no.6
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• pp.499-504
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• 2006

Objectives : The aim of the study was to estimate the annual socioeconomic cost of diseases in Korea. Methods : We estimate both the direct and indirect costs of diseases in Korea during 2003 using a prevalence-based approach. The direct cost estimates included medical expenditures, traffic costs and caregiver's cost, and the indirect costs, representing the loss of production, included lost workdays due to illness and lost earnings due to premature death, which were estimated based on the human capital theory. The cost estimates were reported at three different discount rates (0, 3 and 5%). Results : The cost of diseases in Korea during 2003 was 38.4 trillion won based on 0% discount rate. This estimate represents approximately 5.3% of GDP The direct and indirect costs were estimated to be 22.5 trillion (58.5% of total cost) and 15.9 trillion won (41.5%), respectively. It was also found that the cost for those aged $40\sim49$ accounted for the largest proportion (21.7%) in relation to age groups. The cost of diseases for males was 23.5% higher than that for females. For major diseases, the total socioeconomic costs were 16.0, 13.4, 11.3 and 11.19% for neoplasms, and diseases of the digestive, respiratory and circulatory systems, respectively. Conclusions : This study can be expected to provide valuable information for determining intervention and funding priorities, and for planning health policies.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.284-289
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• 2002

Background : The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the direct and indirect composite restorations which had been placed for 1 year Methods : The composite restorations which had been placed between 1999. Mar and 1999, Dec was evaluated after 1 year For direct restorations. Spectrum (Dentsply, USA) and Z100 (3M, USA) were used in the anterior teeth and Surefil (Dentsply, USA) were used. For class V restorations of anterior and posterior teeth. Spectrum was used. For indirect restorations, Targis/Vectris system (Vivadent/Ivoclar, Liechtenstein) was used 2 examiners evaluated marginal quality, proximal contact. discoloration, presence of 2$^{nd}$ caries, loss of filling and hypersensitivity of restorations. The restorations was clinically evaluated by modified methods based on USPHS. Results : 60 teeth were evaluated. 59 were clinically acceptable and 1 restoration which was placed in class v cavity in the posterior tooth was fallen out. In most cases, the restorations were clinically accept-able. For restorations which had been directly placed in the class II cavities, loose proximal contact was indicated as the main complaints. Conclusions : Most of Anterior and posterior restorations which bad been directly or indirectly placed for 1 year were clinically acceptable. For posterior teeth, loose proximal contact was indicated as the main problem in the directly placed Class II restorations. Long term clinical study is needed.

• Korean Journal of Weed Science
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.230-260
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• 1992

The paper was reviewed the research results on weed dynamics and effective control methods in direct-seeded rice crop. Direct seeding method resulted in drastic increment of weed growth compared to transplanting method and also changed in troublesome weed flora. Two to three fold more weeds were harvested at the direct seeded rice and weed flora of dominant species shifted toward $C_4$type grass weeds. Some of the important troublesome weeds in direct seeded rice were Echinochloa crus-galle, Oryza saliva ssp spontanea, Leptochloa chinensis. Setaria viridus. Digitaria adsendens, Sesbania exaltata, Aeschynomene indica, Algae, etc. Yield loss due to weed competiton was about 40-60% for water-seeded and about 70-100% for dry-seeded rice while these for transplanted rice were about 25-35% for mechanical transplanting and about 10-20% for manual transplanting, respectively. Integrated weed management concept was neede to approach weed control effectively. Several cultural technologies were very effective to suppress the weed growth. These were tillage operation, water management, seeding date and seeding rate. Crop residues of barley, rice, wheat, oat and italian ryegrass were also effectivly suppressed the paddy weeds particularly to Potamogeton distiuctus, a perennial broadleaf weed. A pathogen of Epicoccosorus nematosporus identified from Eleocharis kuroguwai was an excellent potential bioagent to control the most troublesome perennial sedge weed of E. Kuroguwai without arising any detrimental effect. The herbicidal efficacy of this pathogen was as high as bentazon herbicide. Plant growth regulator of paclobutrazol (pp-333) was another possible alternative to reduce the herbicide use. In current, herbicide exhibited the most conspicuous results to control weeds in direct-seeded rice even though the application technologies were not fully established. Recommendations for herbicide application were suggested for in both water-and dry-seeded rice in USA, Japan and Korea, respectively. To make better and comprehensive recommendations further studies on weed ecology and herbicide development were emphasized.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.275-283
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• 2023

Objective: This study was to evaluate standardized ileal digestibility (SID) of amino acids (AA) in fermented soybean meal (FSBM) for nursery pigs using both direct procedure and difference procedure when FSBM was added at 20% in diets. Methods: Forty-eight pigs at 9.2±0.9 kg body weight (BW) were individually housed and allotted to 4 treatments. Treatments included NFD (a semi-purified N free diet), FSD (a diet with 20% FSBM), CBD (corn basal diet), and CFD (corn basal diet:FSBM at 80:20). The FSD was used to measure AA digestibility in FSBM using the direct procedure, whereas CBD and CFD were used in the difference procedure. Pigs were fed for 10 days (0.09×BW^0.75 kg per day) and euthanized to collect ileal digesta for TiO₂ and AA. Results: Total endogenous AA loss was 12.1 g/kg of dry matter intake. The apparent ileal digestibility (AID) Thr was greater (p<0.05) and AID His (p = 0.073) and Leu (p = 0.052) tended to be greater using the direct procedure compared with the difference procedure. The SID Thr were greater (p<0.05) in FSBM for nursery pigs calculated using a direct procedure compared with a difference procedure. In addition, SID Lys in FSBM was about 83% to 88% for nursery pigs higher than SID Lys described in National Research Council (2012). Conclusion: The SID of AA in FSBM when included at practical levels using the direct procedure were similar to those from the difference procedure. Considering the SID of AA obtained using both direct and difference procedures, FSBM is an effective protein supplement providing highly digestible AA to nursery pigs. The SID of AA from this study was considerably higher than those previous reported. This study also indicates the importance of including the test feedstuffs at practical levels when evaluating digestibility.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.26-36
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• 2024

Functional brain imaging techniques have been used to diagnose psychiatric disorders such as dementia, depression, and autism. Recently, these techniques have also been actively used to study hearing loss. The present study reviewed the application of the functional brain imaging techniques in auditory research, especially those focusing on hearing loss, over the past decade. EEG, fMRI, fNIRS, MEG, and PET have been utilized in auditory research, and the number of research studies using these techniques has been increasing. In particular, fMRI and EEG were the most frequently used technique in auditory research. EEG studies mostly used event-related designs to analyze the direct relationship between stimulus and the related response, and in fMRI studies, resting-state functional connectivity and block designs were utilized to analyze alterations in brain functionality in hearing-related areas. In terms of age, while studies involving children mainly focused on congenital and pre- and post-lingual hearing loss to analyze developmental characteristics with and without hearing loss, those involving adults focused on age-related hearing loss to investigate changes in the characteristics of the brain based on the presence of hearing loss and the use of a hearing device. Overall, ranging from EEG to PET, various functional brain imaging techniques have been used in auditory research, but it is difficult to perform a comprehensive analysis due to the lack of consistency in experimental designs, analysis methods, and participant characteristics. Thus, it is necessary to develop standardized research protocols to obtain high-quality clinical and research evidence.

• JSTS:Journal of Semiconductor Technology and Science
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• v.4 no.4
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• pp.300-306
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• 2004

This paper reports a novel tunable bandpass filter using two-state switched inductor with direct-contact MEMS switches for wireless LAN applications. In our filter configuration, the switched inductor is implemented to obtain more stable and much larger frequency tuning ratio compared with variable capacitor-based tunable filter. The proposed tunable filter was fabricated using a micromachining technology and electrical performances of the fabricated filter were measured. The filter consists of spiral inductors, MIM capacitors and direct-contact type MEMS switches, and its frequency tunability is achieved by changing the inductance that is induced by ON/OFF actuations of the MEMS switches. The actuation voltage of the MEMS switches was measured of 58 V, and they showed the insertion loss of 0.1 dB and isolation of 26.3 dB at 2 GHz, respectively. The measured center frequencies of the fabricated filter were 2.55 GHz and 5.1 GHz, respectively. The passband insertion loss and 3-dB bandwidth were 4.2 dB and 22.5 % at 2.55 GHz, and 5.2 dB and 23.5 % at 5.1 GHz, respectively.

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Information and Communication Engineering
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• v.14 no.10
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• pp.2194-2200
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• 2010

In this paper, the power detectors using metamaterials were designed and fabricated for multi-band six-port direct conversion method. The RF short-stubs for power detector were designed by using metamaterials which provide multi-band characteristics. The power detectors with metamaterial RF short-stub were analyzed and fabricated by using lumped and distributed element. The measured results of metamaterial power detectors show the good agreement with the simulation results. The performance of lumped-metamaterial RF short-stub shows the insertion loss below 1 dB and the good frequency response characteristics. Also, the distributed-metamaterial RF short-stub shows the good frequency response characteristics and the insertion loss under that of lumped-metamaterial RF short-stub. The multi-band power detectors with metamaterial RF short-stub detect the input RF signal in the designed dual frequency bands very well.

• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.226-231
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• 2002

Power densities produced by the permeation of methanol through membranes were directly measured by inserting the membrane in front of anode in a membrane-electrode-assembly of a direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC). The power density was closely related to the loss of power in the DMFC and was strongly affected by temperature. As the cell temperature was increased, the power density resulting from methanol crossover was increased. The increase in methanol crossover had be attributed to diffusion caused or affected by temperature. Methanol crossover a major effect on the performance of a DMFC at a relatively low temperature with $26\%\;loss\;at\;30^{\circ}C$. In order to reduce methanol crossover, a conventional Nafion membrane was modified by the incorporation of Pt or Pd. The reduction in methanol crossover was investigated in these modified membranes by our cell performance measurement. Pt and Pd particles incorporated in the Nafion membranes block methanol pathway and prevent methanol transport through the membranes, which was proved by combining with liquid chromatography.

• Hip & pelvis
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.246-252
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• 2023

Purpose: The aim of this study was to compare short-term results from use of the direct anterior approach (DAA) and the conventional posterolateral approach (PLA) in performance of bipolar hemiarthroplasty for treatment of femoral intertrochanteric fractures in elderly patients. Materials and Methods: A retrospective review of 100 patients with intertrochanteric fractures who underwent bipolar hemiarthroplasty was conducted. The PLA was used in 50 cases from 2016 to 2019; since that time we have used the DAA in 50 cases from 2019 to 2021. Measurements of mean operative time, blood loss, hospitalization period, and ambulation status, greater trochanter (GT) migration and stem subsidence were performed. And the incidence of complications was examined. Results: Operative time was 73.60±14.56 minutes in the PLA group and 79.80±8.89 minutes in the DAA group (P<0.05). However, after experiencing 20 cases using DAA, there was no statistically difference in operative time between two groups (P=0.331). Blood loss was 380.76±180.67 mL in the PLA group and 318.14± 138.51 mL in the DAA group (P<0.05). The hospitalization was 23.76±11.89 days in the PLA group and 21.45 ±4.18 days in the DAA group (P=0.207). In both groups, there were no progressive GT migration, intraoperative fractures or dislocations, although there was one case of infection in the PLA group. Conclusion: Although use of the DAA in performance of bipolar hemiarthroplasty required slightly more time in the beginning compared with the PLA, the DAA may well be an alternative, safe surgical technique as a muscle preserving procedure in elderly patients with intertrochanteric fractures.