• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.69 no.3
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• pp.177-183
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• 2010

Background: Smoking reduces pulmonary function and induces various lung diseases. Recently, the rate of emphysema detection has increased due to lung cancer screening with low-dose chest computed tomography (CT). The purpose of this study was to evaluate changes in lung function associated with emphysema in healthy smokers. Methods: One hundred and ninety one healthy smokers, who had undergone a low-dose chest CT (LDCT) scan as part of lung cancer screening and had revisited the health center after a median 23.9 months' time, were recruited into this study. The severity of emphysema was calculated by the direct observation of a radiologist and a pulmonologist indipendently. Longitudinal changes in lung function according to emphysema based on LDCT and type of smoker was analyzed. Results: Of the participants in this study, 25% of healthy smokers had emphysema, which was mild in severity, in older patients (p=0.003) and in heavy smokers (p<0.001). $FEV_1/FVC$ and FEF25-75% were decreased in current smokers with emphysema (p=0.001 and p=0.009, respectively) and without emphysema (p=0.001 and p=0.042). Although lung function was not decreased in ex-smokers without emphysema, $FEV_1/FVC$ and FEF25-75% were decreased in ex-smoker with emphysema (p=0.020 and p=0.010). Conclusion: Upon examination with LDCT, the prevalence of emphysema was higher in healthy smokers was than in non-smokers. Lung function was diminished in smokers with emphysema, in spite of former smoker.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.69 no.4
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• pp.271-278
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• 2010

Background: Recent studies have demonstrated that the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) genotype is the most important predictive marker to EGFR-tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) and first-line gefitinib treatment will be approved in the near future for use in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with the EGFR mutation. Direct sequencing is known to be the standard for detecting EGFR mutations; however, it has limited sensitivity. Peptide nucleic acids (PNA)-mediated PCR clamping method is a newly introduced method for analyzing EGFR mutations with increased sensitivity and stability. Methods: A total of 71 NSCLC patients were analyzed for EGFR mutations using the PNA-mediated PCR clamping technique. Sixty-nine patients were analyzed for clinicopathologic correlation with EGFR genotype; 2 patients with indeterminate results were excluded. In order to determine EGFR-TKI drug response, 57 patients (42 gefitinib, 15 erlotinib) were included in the analysis. Results: The EGFR mutation rate was 47.8%. Being female, a non-smoker, and having adenocarcinoma were favorable clinicopathologic factors, as expected. However, more than a few smokers (33.3%), male (28.1%), and patients with non-adenocarcinoma (28.6%) had the EGFR mutation. Having a combination of favorable clinicopathologic factors did not increase the EGFR mutation rate significantly. Drug response to EGFR-TKIs showed significant differences depending on the EGFR genotype; ORR was 14.3% for wild type vs 69.0% for mutant type; DCR is 28.6% for wild type vs 96.6% for mutant type. The median EGFR-TKI treatment duration is 7.6 months for mutant type group and 1.4 months for wild type group. Conclusion: EGFR genotype determined using the PNA-mediated PCR clamping method is significantly correlated with the clinical EGFR-TKI responses and PNA-mediated PCR.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.201-212
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• 2006

Purpose : Vesicoureteral reflux(VUR) is the major risk factor of urinary tract infection(UTI) in children and may result in serious complications such as renal scarring and chronic renal failure. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between VUR and renal scar formation, the usefulness and correlation of various imaging studies in reflux nephropathy, and the spontaneous resolution of VUR. Methods : We retrospectively reviewed 106 patients with VUR with no accompanying urogenital anomalies in the Department of Pediatrics, Bundang CHA Hospital during the period from Jan. 1996 to Mar. 2005. Ultrasonography and $^{99m}Tc$-dimercaptosuccinic acid(DMSA) scan were performed in the acute period of UTI. Voiding cystourethrography(VCUG) was performed 1 to 3 weeks after treatment with UTI. Follow-up DMSA scan was performed 4 to 6 months after treatment and a follow-up VCUG was performed every 12 months. Results : The mean age at detection of VUR was $13.8{\pm}22.2$ months and the male to female ratio was 2:1. The incidence of renal scarring showed a tendency of direct correlation between severity of VUR(P<0.001) and abnormal findings of renal ultrasonography(P<0.01). 63.2%(24 of 38 renal units) of renal parenchymal defects present in the first DMSA scan disappeared on follow-up DMSA scans. Follow-up DMSA scans detected renal scars in 7(14%) of 50 renal units with ultrasonographically normal kidneys. Meanwhile, ultrasonography did not show parenchymal defects in 7(36.8%) of 19 renal units where renal scarring was demonstrated on a follow-up DMSA scan. The spontaneous resolution rate of VUR was higher(75%) in cases with low grade(I to III) VUR(P<0.01). Conclusions : The presence and severity of VUR and abnormal findings of renal ultrasonography significantly correlated with renal scar formation. DMSA scan was useful in the diagnosis of renal defects. Meanwhile renal ultrasonography was an inadequate method for evaluating renal parenchymal damage. Therefore, follow-up DMSA scans should be performed to detect renal scars even in children with low-grade VUR and normal renal ultrasonography.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.35 no.5
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• pp.301-306
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• 2013

This research was conducted to investigate whether sequential anoxic/aerobic biofilm reactors and microfilteration (MF) membrane system can be used as a direct treatment for the removal of perchlorate and nitrate in groundwater. The biofilm process consisted of an anoxic first stage to remove perchlorate and nitrate and aerobic second stage to remove remaining acetate used as a carbon source for dissimilatory reduction of perchlorate and nitrate. In final stage, hollow fiber MF membrane was used to remove turbidity. In this research, perchlorate was reduced from the influent concentration of 102 ${\mu}/L$ to below the IC detection level (5 ${\mu}/L$) and nitrate was reduced from 61.8 mg/L (14 mg/L $NO_3$-N) to 4.4 mg/L (1 mg/L $NO_3$-N). Acetate used as a carbon source was consumed from 179 mg/L $CH_3COO-$ to 117 and 11 mg/L $CH_3COO^-$ in effluents from anoxic and aerobic biofilm reactors, respectively. Turbidity was reduced from 3.0 NTU to 1.5, 0.3, and 0.2 NTU in effluents from anoxic/aerobic biofilm reactors and MF membrane, respectively. It is expected that the sequential anoxic/aerobic biofilm reactors and MF membrane system can efficiently remove perchlorate and nitrate in surface water or groundwater.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.285-290
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• 2003

This study was conducted to select the bacteriocin-producing microoreanism cultivated in the rice bran culture and to characterize the produced bacteriocin for the further purpose of economical and anti-bacterial rice bran protein film. Pseudomonas putida 21025 was cultivated from rice bran and identified as a producer of a bacteriocin which showed bactericidal activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa 9027. Bacteriocin produced by Pseudomonas putida 21025 showed a broad spectrum of activity against spoilage and soil bacteria. The activity of the bacteriocin produced by Pseudomonas putida 21025 decreased after 1 hr of staying at the temperature of $50^{\circ}C$, and with the presence of some organic solvents, except hexane and ethanol. However, the bacteriocin activity was stable throughout the pH ranges of 6-9 for 2 hrs, at the temperature lower than $50^{\circ}C$, and with the presence of ethanol for 3 hrs. The bacteriocin was partially purified by 50% ammonium sulfate precipitation followed by subsequent dialysis. Direct detection of the partially purified bacteriocin on SDS-PAGE suggested that it had an apparent molecular mass of about 21.6 kDa.

• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
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• v.3 no.3
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• pp.159-165
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• 2005

The characterization of radiological contamination inside pipes generated during the decommission of a nuclear facility is necessary before pipes can be recycled or disposed. But, existing direct measurements of radioactive contamination level using the survey-meter can not estimate the characteristic of contamination on a local area such as the pipe inside. Moreover, the measurement of surface contamination level using the indirect methods has many problems of an application because of the difficulty of collecting sample and contamination possibility of a worker when collecting sample. In this work, plastic scintillator was simulated by using Monte Carlo simulation method for detection of beta radiation emitted from internal surfaces of small diameter pipe. Simulation results predicted the optimum thickness and geometry of plastic scintillator at which energy absorption for beta radiation was maximized. In addition, the problem of scintillator processing and transferring the detector into the pipe inside was considered when fabricating the plastic detector on the basis of simulation results. The characteristic of detector fabricated was also estimated. As a result, it was confirmed that detector capability was suitable for the measurement of contamination level. Also, the development of a detector for estimating the radiological characteristic of contamination on a local area such as the pipe inside was proven to be feasible.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.10 no.6
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• pp.329-335
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• 2010

Digital imaging detectors can use a variety of detection materials to convert X-ray radiation either to light or directly to electron charge. Many detectors such as amorphous silicon flat panels, CCDs, and CMOS photodiode arrays incorporate a scintillator screen to convert x-ray to light. The digital radiography systems based on semiconductor detectors, commonly referred to as flat panel detectors, are gaining popularity in the clinical & hospital. The X-ray detectors are described between a-Silicon based indirect type and a-Selenium based direct type. The DRS of detectors is used to convert the x-ray to electron hole pairs. Image processing is described by specific image features: Latitude compression, Contrast enhancement, Edge enhancement, Look up table, Noise suppression. The image features are tuned independently. The final enhancement result is a combination of all image features. The parameters are altered by using specific image features in the different several hospitals. The image in a radiological report consists of two image evaluation processes: Clinical image parameters and MTF is a descriptor of the spatial resolution of a digital imaging system. We used the edge test phantom and exposure procedure described in the IEC 61267 to obtain an edge spread function from which the MTF is calculated. We can compare image in the processing parameters to change between original and processed image data. The angle of the edge with respect to the axes of detector was varied in order to determine the MTF as a function of direction. Each MTF is integrated within the spatial resolution interval of 1.35-11.70 cycles/mm at the 50% MTF point. Each image enhancement parameters consists of edge, frequency, contrast, LUT, noise, sensitometry curve, threshold level, windows. The digital device is also shown to have good uniformity of MTF and image parameters across its modality. The measurements reported here represent a comprehensive evaluation of digital radiography system designed for use in the DRS. The results indicate that the parameter enables very good image quality in the digital radiography. Of course, the quality of image from a parameter is determined by other digital devices in addition to the proper clinical image.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Illuminating and Electrical Installation Engineers
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.71-79
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• 2008

High voltage distribution lines in the electric railway system placed according track with communication lines and signal equipments. Case of the over head lines is occurrence the many fault because lightning, rainstorm, damage from the sea wind and so on. According this fault caused protection device to wrong operation. One line ground fault that occurs most frequently in railway high voltage distribution lines and sort of faults is line short, three line ground breaking of a wire, and so on. For this reason we need precise maintenance for prevent of the faults. The most important is early detection and fast restoration in time of fault for a safety transit. In order to develop an advanced fault location device for 22.9[kV] distribution power network in electric railway system this paper deals with new fault locating algorithm using flow technique which enable to determine the location of the fault accurately. To demonstrate its superiorities, the case studies with the algorithm and the fault analysis using PSCAD/EMTDC (Power System Computer Aided Design/Electro Magnetic Transients DC Analysis Program) were carried out with the models of direct-grounded 22.9[kV] distribution network which is supposed to be the grounding method for electric railway system in Korea.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.27 no.10
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• pp.1123-1128
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• 2005

NIB(methylisoborneol) is an earthy/musty odor compound produced as a second metabolite by cyanobacteria and actinomycetes. MIB is not removed by conventional water treatment(coagulation, sedimentation, filtration) and its presence in tap water, even at low ng/L levels, can result in consumer complaints. PAC(powdered activated carbon) can effectively remove MIB when the correct dose is applied. But, since most operators in water treatment plants apply a PAC dose and then adjust that dose depending on direct observation (odor detection) after treatment, the result is often under-dose or eve,-dose. In this study, kinetic and isotherm tests using $^{14}C$-radiolabeled MIB were performed to determine coefficients for the HSDM(homogeneous surface diffusion model), including liquid film mass transfer coefficient($K_f$) and surface diffusion coefficient ($D_s$). The HSDM gave a reasonable fit and allowed prediction with the experimental data. Base on the HSDM, the authors developed an optimum PAC dose prediction program using the Excel spreadsheet. When the developed program was applied at two water treatment plants, the PAC dose based on the experience of operators in the water treatment plant was significantly different from that recommended by the newly developed program. If operators are willing to use the optimum PAC dose prediction program, it should solve dosing problems.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.17 no.12
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• pp.339-344
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• 2016

Since transmissions of large amounts of data are frequent, users require more bandwidth, and the need for communications networks having greater bandwidth is increasing. One communications network satisfying this need is an optical communications network. Therefore, studies to increase the transmission capacity of optical communications systems have been carried out. However, in a general optical communications system, a signal transmitted through optical fiber (a transmission medium) is detected through direct detection in the receiving system. This method has a disadvantage in that the entire bandwidth of the optical signal cannot be utilized. Also, when transmitting an optical signal, there is a problem where the signal-to-noise ratio is affected by neighboring channels. To overcome this situation, various studies are being conducted to minimize the influence of external interference and noise. This paper overcomes the situation by transmitting spectrum-sliced signals using the digital transmission system, FSK. Analyzing the characteristics of the signals detected in the receiver of the optical communications system, Gaussian distribution is used for the PDF of the spectrum-sliced signal, and the signal at the receiving end of the optical communications system is assumed to have a k-square distribution. The results of the analysis confirmed it is better to transmit the spectrally divided signal rather than transmit the laser source.