• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.39 no.6
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• pp.413-420
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• 2005

Purpose: Neuroreceptor PET studies require 60-120 minutes to complete and head motion of the subject during the PET scan increases the uncertainty in measured activity. In this study, we investigated the effects of the data-driven head mutton correction on the evaluation of endogenous dopamine release (DAR) in the striatum during the motor task which might have caused significant head motion artifact. Materials and Methods: $[^{11}C]raclopride$ PET scans on 4 normal volunteers acquired with bolus plus constant infusion protocol were retrospectively analyzed. Following the 50 min resting period, the participants played a video game with a monetary reward for 40 min. Dynamic frames acquired during the equilibrium condition (pre-task: 30-50 min, task: 70-90 min, post-task: 110-120 min) were realigned to the first frame in pre-task condition. Intra-condition registrations between the frames were performed, and average image for each condition was created and registered to the pre-task image (inter-condition registration). Pre-task PET image was then co-registered to own MRI of each participant and transformation parameters were reapplied to the others. Volumes of interest (VOI) for dorsal putamen (PU) and caudate (CA), ventral striatum (VS), and cerebellum were defined on the MRI. Binding potential (BP) was measured and DAR was calculated as the percent change of BP during and after the task. SPM analyses on the BP parametric images were also performed to explore the regional difference in the effects of head motion on BP and DAR estimation. Results: Changes in position and orientation of the striatum during the PET scans were observed before the head motion correction. BP values at pre-task condition were not changed significantly after the intra-condition registration. However, the BP values during and after the task and DAR were significantly changed after the correction. SPM analysis also showed that the extent and significance of the BP differences were significantly changed by the head motion correction and such changes were prominent in periphery of the striatum. Conclusion: The results suggest that misalignment of MRI-based VOI and the striatum in PET images and incorrect DAR estimation due to the head motion during the PET activation study were significant, but could be remedied by the data-driven head motion correction.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.37 no.6
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• pp.418-427
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• 2003

Objects: $^{99m}-lactosylated$ human serum albumin (LSA) is a newly synthesized radiopharmaceutical that binds to asialoglycoprotein receptors, which are specifically presented on the hepatocyte membrane. Hepatic uptake and blood clearance of LSA were evaluated in rat with acute hepatic injury induced by dimethylnitrosamine (DMN) and results were compared with corresponding findings of liver enzyme profile and these of histologic changes. Materials and Methods: DMN (27 mg/kg) was injected intraperitoneally in Sprague-Dawley rat to induce acute hepatic injury. At 3(DMN-3), 8(DMN-8), and 21 (DMN-21) days after injection of DMN, LSA injected intravenously, and dynamic images of the liver and heart were recorded for 30 minutes. Time-activity curves of the heart and liver were generated from regions of interest drawn over liver and heart area. Degree of hepatic uptake and blood clearance of LSA were evaluated with visual interpretation and semiquantitative analysis using parameters (receptor index : LHL3 and index of blood clearance : HH3), analysis of time-activity curve was also performed with curve fitting using Prism program. Results: Visual assessment of LSA images revealed decreased hepatic uptake in DMN treated rat, compared to control group. In semiquantitative analysis, LHL3 was significantly lower in DMN treated rat group than control rat group (DMN-3: 0.842, DMN-8: 0.898, DMN-21: 0.91, Control: 0.96, p<0.05), whereas HH3 was significantly higher than control rat group (DMN-3: 0.731,.DMN-8: 0.654, DMN-21: 0.604, Control: 0.473, p<0.05). AST and ALT were significantly higher in DMN-3 group than those of control group. Centrilobular necrosis and infiltration of inflammatory cells were most prominent in DMN-3 group, and were decreased over time. Conclusion: The degree of hepatic uptake of LSA was inversely correlated with liver transaminase and degree of histologic liver injury in rat with acute hepatic injury.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural and Forest Meteorology
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.26-46
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• 2020

An irrigated-maize agroecosystem is viewed as an open thermodynamic system upon which solar radiation impresses a large gradient that moves the system away from equilibrium. Following the imperative of the second law of thermodynamics, such agroecosystem resists and reduces the externally applied gradient by using all means of this nature-human coupled system acting together as a nonequilibrium dissipative process. The ultimate purpose of our study is to test this hypothesis by examining the energetics of agroecosystem growth and development. As a first step toward this test, we employed the eddy covariance flux data from 2003 to 2014 at the AmeriFlux NE1 irrigated-maize site at Mead, Nebraska, USA, and analyzed the energetics of this agroecosystem by scrutinizing its radiation, energy and entropy exchange. Our results showed: (1) more energy capture during growing season than non-growing season, and increasing energy capture through growing season until senescence; (2) more energy flow activity within and through the system, providing greater potential for degradation; (3) higher efficiency in terms of carbon uptake and water use through growing season until senescence; and (4) the resulting energy degradation occurred at the expense of increasing net entropy accumulation within the system as well as net entropy transfer out to the surrounding environment. Under the drought conditions in 2012, the increased entropy production within the system was accompanied by the enhanced entropy transfer out of the system, resulting in insignificant net entropy change. Drought mitigation with more frequent irrigation shifted the main route of entropy transfer from sensible to latent heat fluxes, yielding the production and carbon uptake exceeding the 12-year mean values at the cost of less efficient use of water and light.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.13-20
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• 2005

The effects of pectin on obesity was studied using 3T3-L1 pre-adipocytes and rats fed 20% high fat diets. The concentration of leptin released from 3T3-L1 adipocytes in the presence of pectin was significantly decreased by 85% compared to that of the control (p<0.05), however, glycerol concentration was not changed. These data indicate that pectin seems to inhibit lipids accumulation in the adipocytes rather than enhance the lipolytic activity. Forty Sprague Dawley rats were fed 20% high fat diet for 8 weeks to induce obesity and then divided equally into four groups. Experimental groups were normal diet group (ND), high fat diet group (HFD), HDF with 10% pectin group (HFP10), and HDF with 20% pectin group (HFP20). Diet for the each group was prepared to be iso-caloric following AIN-76 guideline. After obesity was induced, rats were placed on an restricted diet for 9 weeks. The body weight of HFD increased 50% (p<0.05) compared to the ND, while it was decreased by 12% and 16% for HFP10 and HFP20, respectively (p<0.05). The relative amount of visceral fats for HFDl0 and HFD20 were decreased by 45% and 59% compared to that of HDF (130%), respectively (p<0.05). Pectin seems to have a greater effect on reducing visceral fats accumulation than weight reduction. Significantly increased level of triglyceride, total cholesterol or LDL-cholesterol in the plasma of HFD was returned to the normal or even below the normal by pectin diet, while the level of HDL-cholesterol increased. Lipid lowering effect was also observed in the liver and heart. These effects of pectin were dosedependent. In conclusion, the beneficial effect of pectin on the obesity was observed from cell culture experiment and animal study in terms of inhibiting the accumulation of lipids in the adipocytes.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.12-20
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• 2008

Purpose: Chronic pulmonary disease may be caused by aspiration of gastric contents secondary to gastroesophageal reflux. At present, there is no gold standard for documenting pulmonary aspiration. The purpose of this study was to investigate the usefulness of radionuclide scintigraphy in the detection of gastroesophageal reflux and pulmonary aspiration. Methods: Thirty-five patients with suspected aspiration pneumonia, and five normal control subjects, were included in the study. All subjects underwent gastroesophageal reflux scintigraphy after the ingestion of a $^{99m}Tc$-tin colloid mixture. Dynamic images to detect gastroesophageal reflux were obtained for 1 hour. Additional static images of the chest, to detect lung aspiration, were obtained at 6 and 24 hours after oral ingestion of the tin colloid. In addition to visual analysis, pulmonary aspiration was quantitated by counting the number of pixels labeled with radioactive isotope in the region of interest (ROI) of both lung fields. Aspiration index (AI) was obtained by subtracting the pixel counts of the background from the pixel counts of the ROI. Results: Among 35 patients with suspected aspiration pneumonia, 23 proved to have gastroesophageal reflux by scintigraphy. One patient showed definite pulmonary accumulation of activity by visual analysis of the 6-hour image. Thirty of 35 (85.7%) patients showed higher AI beyond the upper limit of AI in the healthy controls. When we compared the reflux group with the non-reflux group, there was a significantly higher AI at 6 hours in the reflux group (p<0.05). Conclusion: The results suggest that radionuclide scintigraphy is useful in detecting small pulmonary aspiration in patients with suspected aspiration pneumonia secondary to reflux.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.267-275
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• 2000

In an effort to assess the reliability of satellite altimeter system, we conducted a comparative analysis of sea level data that were collected using the TOPEX/POSEIDON (T/P) altimeter and the 10 tide gauge (TG) stations in the satellite passing track. The analysis was made using data sets collected from marginal sea regions surrounding the Korean Peninsula at T/P cycles of 2 to 230, which correspond to October 1992 to December 1998. Because of strong tidal activity in the study area, treatment of tidal errors is a very critical step in data processing. Hence in the computation of dynamic heights from the Tn data, we adapted the procedures of Park and Gamberoni (1995) to reduce errors associated with it. When these T/P data were treated, the alias periods of M$_2$, S$_2$, and K$_1$ constitutions were found at 62.1, 58.7, and 173 days. The compatibility of the T/P and TG data sets were examined at various filtering periods. The results indicate that the low-frequency signal of Tn data can be interpreted more safely with longer filtering periods (such as up to the maximum selected values of 200 days). When RMS errors for 200-day low-pass filter period was compared among the whole 10 tidal stations, the values spanned in the range of 2.8 to 6.7 cm. The results of correlation analysis at this filtering period also showed a strong agreement between the Tn and TG data sets over the whole stations investigated (e.g., P values consistently less than 0.0001). According to our analysis, we conclude that the analysis of surface sea level using satellite altimeter data can be made safely and reasonably long filtering periods such as 200 days.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.115-123
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• 1990

The purpose of this study was to examine the uses of coal ash as a type of construction material. The methods of examination were chemical anlysis, soil laboratory test and the soil vibration test. Materials used were coal ash obtained as a by-product from 5 thermal power plants in Yongdong, Yongwol, Sochon(anthracite coal) and in Samchonpo and Honam (bituminous coal). Over 70% of the coal ash consisted of silica and alumina. The fly ash grain size showed a uniform distribution from fine-sand to silt, and that of the bottom ash showed from sand to gravel. The specific gravity and density of the coal ash were low. The long term strength increased gradually due to the self-setting property resulting from pozzolanic activity. The shear strength was higher than that of general soil. Cohesion and optimum moisture content of anthracite coal ash were higher than bituminous coal ash, whereas the maximum dry density was higher in bituminous coal ash. The coal ash dynamic Young's modulous curve range was similar to that of general soil. Of the results from the soil vibration test by car-running, the size relative acceleration level in the ash pond was higher than that of natural ground, but the damping ratio was lower than that of natural ground near the ash pond. The coal ash has more advantageous engineering properties than general soil with particles of the same size. For example, the California Bearing Ratio of the bottom ash at both Yongdong and Yongwol was 77~137%. Therefore we expect that if further study is done, coal ash can be used as a construction material when reclaiming seashore, construction embankments, road construction, making right-weight aggregate, or as a general construction material.

• Asia-Pacific Journal of Business Venturing and Entrepreneurship
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• v.11 no.6
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• pp.111-122
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• 2016

Support and efforts are being strengthened at the national level for entrepreneurial activities that are expected to revitalize our economy. Generally, according to the previous studies, it is known that entrepreneurship positively affects economic growth and the reduction of unemployment rate through employment creation. The analysis of the impact of entrepreneurial activities on economic growth and job creation is mainly based on national comparative analysis. In this paper, however, the impact of start-up activities in the Busan metropolitan city on regional economic growth and employment improvement. In this study, the dummy variables were assigned to firms within three years, five years, and ten years after start-up according to the period since the start-up of the firm. As a result of the empirical analysis, the value of dummy variable of the start - up firms was found to be significant in the analysis of the sales growth rate as the dependent variable according to the preceding study by Evans(1987). Therefore, it can be seen that the growth rate of the start - up company is higher than that of the other companies and it is positive for the regional economic growth. In addition, the coefficient of the dummy variable decreases from the enterprise analysis to the latter within three years, five years, and ten years after the start-up, and confirms that the coefficient of the firm's start-up years has a negative value. I could see more clearly. On the other hand, in the analysis of the effect of start-up firms on unemployment rate reduction, the growth rate of regular workers was higher than that of other firms. This suggests that it positively affects the reduction of the unemployment rate in the region. In addition, in the dynamic analysis using the Almon estimation formula and the Koyck model, the effect of log-transformed net start-up firms on the growth rate of new workers is very significant. As a result of the above model, It is reaffirmed that start-up activity has a positive effect on employment growth.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.254-259
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• 2003

$^{99m}Tc-galactosyl$ human serum albumin (Tc-GSA) is a radiopharmaceutical that binds to asialoglycoprotein receptors, which are specifically present in the hepatocyte membrane. Because these receptors are decreased in hepatic parenchymal damage, the degree of Tc-GSA accumulation in the liver correlates with findings of liver function test. Hepatic images were performed with Tc-GSA in patients with acute hepatic dysfunction by Amantia Subjunquillea poisoning, and compared with these of liver ultrasonography (USG). Tc-GSA (185 MBq, 3 mg of GSA) was injected intravenously, and dynamic images were recorded for 30 minutes. Time-activity curves for the heart and liver were generated from regions of interest for the whole liver and precordium. Degree of hepatic uptake and clearance rate of Tc-GSA were generated by visual interpretation and semiquantitative analysis parameters (receptor index : LHL15 and index of blood clearance : HH15). Visual assessment of GSA scintigraphy revealed mildly decreased liver uptake in all of subjects. The mean LHL15 and HH15 were 0.886 and 0.621, graded as mild dysfunction in 2, and mild to moderate dysfunction in 1 subject. In contrast, liver USG showed no remarkable changes of hepatic parenchyme. Tc-GSA scintigraphy was considered as a useful imaging modality in the assessment of the hepatic dysfunction.

• Journal of Intelligence and Information Systems
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.143-159
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• 2015

Predicting IT trends has been a long and important subject for information systems research. IT trend prediction makes it possible to acknowledge emerging eras of innovation and allocate budgets to prepare against rapidly changing technological trends. Towards the end of each year, various domestic and global organizations predict and announce IT trends for the following year. For example, Gartner Predicts 10 top IT trend during the next year, and these predictions affect IT and industry leaders and organization's basic assumptions about technology and the future of IT, but the accuracy of these reports are difficult to verify. Social media data can be useful tool to verify the accuracy. As social media services have gained in popularity, it is used in a variety of ways, from posting about personal daily life to keeping up to date with news and trends. In the recent years, rates of social media activity in Korea have reached unprecedented levels. Hundreds of millions of users now participate in online social networks and communicate with colleague and friends their opinions and thoughts. In particular, Twitter is currently the major micro blog service, it has an important function named 'tweets' which is to report their current thoughts and actions, comments on news and engage in discussions. For an analysis on IT trends, we chose Tweet data because not only it produces massive unstructured textual data in real time but also it serves as an influential channel for opinion leading on technology. Previous studies found that the tweet data provides useful information and detects the trend of society effectively, these studies also identifies that Twitter can track the issue faster than the other media, newspapers. Therefore, this study investigates how frequently the predicted IT trends for the following year announced by public organizations are mentioned on social network services like Twitter. IT trend predictions for 2013, announced near the end of 2012 from two domestic organizations, the National IT Industry Promotion Agency (NIPA) and the National Information Society Agency (NIA), were used as a basis for this research. The present study analyzes the Twitter data generated from Seoul (Korea) compared with the predictions of the two organizations to analyze the differences. Thus, Twitter data analysis requires various natural language processing techniques, including the removal of stop words, and noun extraction for processing various unrefined forms of unstructured data. To overcome these challenges, we used SAS IRS (Information Retrieval Studio) developed by SAS to capture the trend in real-time processing big stream datasets of Twitter. The system offers a framework for crawling, normalizing, analyzing, indexing and searching tweet data. As a result, we have crawled the entire Twitter sphere in Seoul area and obtained 21,589 tweets in 2013 to review how frequently the IT trend topics announced by the two organizations were mentioned by the people in Seoul. The results shows that most IT trend predicted by NIPA and NIA were all frequently mentioned in Twitter except some topics such as 'new types of security threat', 'green IT', 'next generation semiconductor' since these topics non generalized compound words so they can be mentioned in Twitter with other words. To answer whether the IT trend tweets from Korea is related to the following year's IT trends in real world, we compared Twitter's trending topics with those in Nara Market, Korea's online e-Procurement system which is a nationwide web-based procurement system, dealing with whole procurement process of all public organizations in Korea. The correlation analysis show that Tweet frequencies on IT trending topics predicted by NIPA and NIA are significantly correlated with frequencies on IT topics mentioned in project announcements by Nara market in 2012 and 2013. The main contribution of our research can be found in the following aspects: i) the IT topic predictions announced by NIPA and NIA can provide an effective guideline to IT professionals and researchers in Korea who are looking for verified IT topic trends in the following topic, ii) researchers can use Twitter to get some useful ideas to detect and predict dynamic trends of technological and social issues.