• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.81-87
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• 2009

Purpose : We sought to evaluate enhancement of plaque with gadolinium-based contrast agent by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in comparison with histopathology, namely lipid-rich and macrophage-rich components that were two representative characteristics of plaque vulnerability using atherosclerotic rabbit aorta in order to determine which histopathologic component is relevant to the enhancement. Materials and Methods : New Zealand white rabbit (n=4, weight 3.0 to 3.5 kg, all male) was used for animal model of atherosclerosis. Atherosclerotic aortic lesions were induced by high-cholesterol diet and double balloon injury. T1-weight axial images were acquired before and after gadolinium-based contrast agent using a 3-T MRI. MR images and the matched histopathological sections (n=35) were divided into 4 quadrants or 3 (n=130). Enhancement ratio (ER, ER=SIpost/SIpre) on MRI was calculated for each quadrant and compared with histopathology in regard to lipid-rich and macrophage-rich areas. Results : Lipid-rich quadrants were 72 and fibrous quadrants were 58. The number of quadrants which had macrophage-rich areas was 105 and that of quadrants which did not have macrophage-rich areas was 25. ER was significantly higher in lipid-rich quadrants than in fibrous quadrants (mean ER 2.25c$\pm$0.41 vs. 2.72$\pm$0.65, p=0.013). ER poorly correlated with macrophage-rich areas when lipid-component was controlled (correlation coefficient -0.203, p=0.236). Conclusion : Lipid-rich plaques showed stronger enhancement than fibrous plaques using a standard gadolinium-based extracellular contrast agent. Macrophage infiltration did not correlate with degree of enhancement. Further study is warranted that account for optimal time of imaging after contrast injection using various plaque models from early to advanced stages and all possible parameters associated with contrast enhancement.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.115-123
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• 2013

Stoker type incinerator is one of the most popular one used as municipal solid waste (MSW) incineration because, in general, it is quite suitable for large capacity and need no preprocessing facility. Nowadays, however, since the combustible portion of incoming MSW increases together with the decrease of the moisture content due to prohibition of directly burying food waste in landfill, the heating value of waste is remarkably increasing in comparison with the early stage of incinerator installation. Consequently, the increased heating value in incinerator operation causes a number of serious problems such as reduction of waste amount to be burned due to the boiler heat capacity together with the significant NO generation in high temperature environment. Therefore, in this study, a series of numerical simulation have been made as parameters of waste amount and the fraction of moisture in air stream in order to investigate optimal operating condition for the resolution of the problems associated with the high heating value of waste mentioned above. In specific, a detailed turbulent reaction flow field calculation with NO model was made for the full scale incinerator of D city. To this end, the injection method of moisturized air as oxidizer was intensively reviewed by the addition of moisture water amount from 10% and 20%. The calculation result, in general, showed that the reduction of maximum flame temperature appears consistently due to the combined effects of the increased specific heat of combustion air and vaporization heat by the addition of water moisture. As a consequence, the generation of NOx concentration was substantially reduced. Further, for the case of 20% moisture amount stream, the afterburner region is quite appropriate in temperature range for the operation of SNCR. This suggests the SNCR facility can be considered for reoperation. which is not in service at all due to the increased heating value of MSW.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.30-36
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• 2015

Purpose Whole body bone scan, which makes up a largest percentage of nuclear medicine tests, has high sensitivity and resolution about bone lesion like osteomyelitis, fracture and the early detection of primary cancer. However, any standard for valuation has not yet been created except minimum factor. Therefore, in this study, we will analysis the method which show a quantitative evaluation index in whole body bone scan. Materials and Methods This study is conducted among 30 call patients, who visited the hospital from April to September 2014 with no special point of view about bone lesion, using GE INFINIA equipment. Enumerated data is measured mainly with patient's whole body count and lumbar vertabrae, and the things which include CNR (Contrast to Noise ratio), SNR (Signal to Noise ratio) are calculated according to the mean value signal and standard deviation of each lumbar vertabrae. In addition, the numerical value with the abdominal thickness is compared to each value by the change of scan speed and tissue equivalent material throughout the phantom examination, and compared with 1hours deleyed value. Completely, on the scale of ten, 2 reading doctors and 5 skilled radiologists with 5-years experience analysis the correlation between visual analysis with blind test and quantitative calculation. Results The whole body count and interest region count of patients have no significant correlation with visual analysis value throughout the blind test(P<0.05). There is definite correlation among CNR and SNR. In phantom examination, Value of the change was caused by the thickness of the abdomen and the scan speed. And The poor value of the image in the subject as a delay test patient could be confirmed that the increase tendency. Conclusion Now, a standard for valuation has not been created in whole body bone scan except minimum factor. In this study, we can verify the significant correlation with blind test using CNR and SNR and also assure that the scan speed is a important factor to influence the imagine quality from the value. It is possible to be some limit depending on the physiology function and fluid intake of patient even if we progress the evaluation in same condition include same injection amount, same scan speed and so on. However, that we prove the significant evaluation index by presenting quantitative calculation objectively could be considered academic value.

• Journal of The Korean Ophthalmological Society
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• v.58 no.6
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• pp.706-711
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• 2017

Purpose: To analyze blinking patterns when watching an ultra-high definition (UHD) television and to compare the results between normal eyes and dry eyes. Methods: A total of 59 participants aged from 13 to 69 years were instructed to watch a colorful and dynamic video on a UHD television for 10 minutes. Before and after watching the UHD television, we measured the best corrected visual acuities, autorefraction, tear-break-up-time, degree of corneal erosion and conjunctival hyperemia via slit lamp biomicroscopy. In addition, questionnaires for the evaluation of eye fatigue and symptoms of a dry eye were completed. The definition of dry eye syndrome was that the tear-break-up-time of one of the eyes was less than 5 seconds, conjunctival injection, or marked corneal erosion. The number of blinks and the duration of blinking were both measured and analyzed at the early and late phases of video-watching. Results: After watching the UHD television in the normal eye group, the tear-break-up-time was significantly decreased (p < 0.001) and the degree of corneal erosion was significantly increased (p = 0.023). However, the subjective symptoms of participants were not aggravated (p = 0.080). There were no significant differences in blinking patterns in the dry eye group. On the other hand, in the normal eye group, the mean blinking time was significantly increased (p = 0.030). Conclusions: Watching an UHD television changes the tear-break-up-time, degree of corneal erosion, and blinking pattern in normal eyes, which may increase the risk of dry eye syndrome.

• Journal of The Korean Ophthalmological Society
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• v.60 no.2
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• pp.144-151
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• 2019

Purpose: Intravitreal aflibercept, ranibizumab, bevacizumab, and dexamethasone are the most widely used drugs in the treatment of diabetic macular edema (DME). The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy and safety of anti-vascular endothelial growth factors and dexamethasone for the treatment of DME. Methods: There were nine previous systematic reviews on this topic; we updated these high-quality reviews. Seven studies were added to two studies following a literature search. Efficacy outcomes were 1) average improvement in visual acuity, 2) proportion of patients who experienced an improvement in vision (an increase in best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) of ${\geq}15$ in the Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study [ETDRS]), and 3) proportion of patients who experienced worsening vision (a decrease in BCVA of ${\geq}15$ in the ETDRS). Safety outcomes included systemic adverse events and ocular-related adverse events. Results: The mean difference in the BCVA for ranibizumab versus bevacizumab treatment was 0.16 (95% confidence interval [CI]: -0.02, 0.34), and that for ranibizumab versus aflibercept was -0.08 (95% CI: -0.26, 0.10). The mean difference in the change of BCVA for aflibercept versus ranibizumab was -0.20 (95% CI: -0.40, -0.01), and that for aflibercept versus bevacizumab was -0.34 (95% CI: -0.53, -0.14). Other efficacy outcomes showed similar trends, and there was no significant difference between treatments. There was also no significant difference in both systemic and ocular adverse events rates between the treatments. Conclusions: In DME patients, the efficacy of aflibercept was found to be higher with respect to BCVA changes compared with ranibizumab or bevacizumab. However, there were no significant difference in terms of visual acuity improvement or visual acuity of more than 15 letters, nor in terms of anti-vascular endothelial growth factors (as a safety outcome).

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.537-544
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• 2019

Genome editing technology employing gene scissors has generated interest in molecular breeding in various fields, and the development of the third-generation gene scissors of the clustered, regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat (CRISPR) system has accelerated the field of molecular breeding through genome editing. In this study, we analyzed the possibility of silkworm molecular breeding using gene scissors by genomic and phenotypic analysis after editing the biogenesis of lysosome-related organelles (BmBLOS) gene of Bakokjam using the CRISPR/Cas9 system. Three types of guide RNAs (gRNA) were synthesized based on the BmBLOS gene sequence of Bakokjam. Complexes of the prepared gRNA and Cas9 protein were formed and introduced into Bombyx mori BM-N cells by electroporation. Analysis of the gene editing efficiency by T7 endonuclease I analysis revealed that the B4N gRNA showed the best efficiency. The silkworm genome was edited by microinjecting the Cas9/B4N gRNA complex into silkworm early embryos and raising the silkworms after hatching. The hatching rate was as low as 18%, but the incidence of mutation was over 40%. In addition, phenotypic changes were observed in about 70% of the G0 generation silkworms. Sequence analysis showed that the BmBLOS gene appeared to be a heterozygote carrying the wild-type and mutation in most individuals, and the genotype of the BmBLOS gene was also different in all individuals. These results suggest that although the possibility of silkworm molecular breeding using the CRISPR/Cas9 system would be very high, continued research on breeding and screening methods will be necessary to improve gene editing efficiency and to obtain homozygotes.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Gas
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.1-10
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• 2020

Reactivity controlled compression ignition (RCCI) combustion is one of dual-fuel combustion systems which can be constructed by early diesel injection during the compression stroke to improve premixing between diesel and air. As a result, RCCI combustion promises low nitrogen oxides (NOx) and smoke emissions comparing to those of general dual-fuel combustion. For this combustion system, to meet the intensified emission regulations without emission after-treatment systems, exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) is necessary to reduce combustion temperature with lean premixed mixture condition. However, since EGR is supplied from the front of turbocharger system, intake pressure and the amount of fresh air supplementation are decreased as increasing EGR rate. For this reason, the effect of various EGR rates on the brake power and thermal efficiency of natural gas/diesel RCCI combustion under two different operating conditions in a 6 L compression ignition engine. Varying EGR rate would influence on the combustion characteristic and boosting condition simultaneously. For the 1,200/29 kW and 1,800 rpm/(lower than) 90 kW conditions, NOx and smoke emissions were controlled lower than the emission regulation of 'Tier-4 final' and the maximum in-cylinder pressure was 160 bar for the indurance of engine system. The results showed that under 1,200 rpm/29 kW condition, there were no changes in brake power and thermal efficiency. On the other hand, under 1,800 rpm condition, brake power and thermal efficieny were decreased from 90 to 65 kW and from 37 to 33 % respectively, because of deceasing intake pressure (from 2.3 to 1.8 bar). Therefore, it is better to supply EGR from the rear of compressor, i.e. low pressure EGR (LP-EGR) system, comparing to high pressure EGR (HP-EGR) for the improvement of RCCI power and thermal efficiency.

• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.109-119
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• 2024

This study was conducted to investigate the early life history by observing the egg development of Ladislavia taczanowskii in endangered fish and to use it as basic data for species conservation research. The broodstork used in the study was secured from the area of the Hongcheon River in Hongcheon-gun, Gangwon State. The broodstork, who was being raised in the laboratory, selected mature individuals in May 2021 and induced them to spawn by hormone injection. The size of the maturation egg was 1.50~1.79 (average 1.59±0.08, n=30) mm due to the circular invasive egg. The incubation time took 168 hours at 16.5℃ and 109 hours and 30 minutes at 25.5℃. Newly hatched larvae, the consonants had a total length of 5.55~6.31 mm (6.30±6.93, n=30) mm, and the mouth and anus did not open and had egg yolk. 5 days after hatching, the preflexion larvae had a total length of 9.91~10.8 (10.1±0.27, n=30) mm, and the mouth and anus opened, and feeding activities began. 8 days after hatching, the flexion larvae had a total length of 10.3~11.4 (10.8±0.38, n=30) mm, and the end of the vertebrae at the tail fin tip began to bend upward. 10 day after hatching, the postflexion larvae had a total length of 11.8~13.1 (12.3±0.43, n=30) mm, and the end of the vertebrae at the tail tip was completely bent at 45°. 18 days after hatching, the total length of the juveniles was 18.9~23.4 (20.4±1.69, n=30) mm, and the number of fins in each part was fin rays with 10 dorsal fins, 9 anal fins, 22 caudal fins, and 7 ventral fins. As a result of the study, the postflexion larvae showed differences in morphology from other Gobioninae fishes in the upper part of the tail's hypural, the shape of spots on the dorsal vertebrae, the vertical stripes developed on the head, and the irregularly deposited melanophore throughout the body.

• Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.235-245
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• 2008

Purpose: The HSV1-tk gene has been extensively studied as a type of reporter gene. In hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), only a small proportion of patients are eligible for surgical resection and there is limitation in palliative options. Therefore, there is a need for the development of new treatment modalities and gene therapy is a leading candidate. In the present study, we investigated the usefulness of substrate, 2'-fluoro-2'-deoxy-1-${\beta}$-D-arabino-furanosyi-5-[$^{124/125}I$]iodo- uracil ([$I^{124/125}I$]FIAU) as a non-invasive imaging agent for HSV1-tk gene therapy in hepatoma model using small animal PET. Material and Methods: With the Morris hepatoma MCA cell line and MCA-tk cell line which was transduced with the HSV1-tk gene, in vitro uptake and correlation study between [$^{125}I$]FIAU uptake according to increasing numeric count of percentage of MCA-tk cell were performed. The biodistribution data and small animal PET images with [$^{124}I$]FIAU were obtained with Balb/c-nude mice bearing both MCA and MCA-tk tumors. Results:, Specific accumulation of [[$^{125}I$]FIAU was observed in MCA-tk cells but uptake was low in MCA cells. Uptake in MCA-tk cells was 15 times higher than that of MCA cells at 480 min. [$^{125}I$]FIAU uptake was linearly correlated (R2 =0.964, p =0.01) with increasing percentage of MCA-tk numeric cell count. Biodistribution results showed that [$^{125}I$]FIAU was mainly excreted via the renal system in the early phase. Ratios of MCA-tk tumor to blood acting were 10, 41, and 641 at 1 h, 4 h, and 24 h post-injection, respectively. The maximum ratio of MCA-tk to MCA tumor was 192.7 at 24 h. Ratios of MCA-tk tumor to liver were 13.8, 66.8, and 588.3 at 1 h, 4 h, and 24 h, respectively. On small animal PET, [$^{124}I$]FIAU accumulated in substantial higher levels in MCA-tk tumor and liver than MCA tumor. Conclusion: FIAU shows selective accumulation to HSV1-tk expressing hepatoma cell tumors with minimal uptake in normal liver. Therefore, radiolabelled FIAU is expected to be a useful substrate for non-invasive imaging of HSV1-tk gene therapy and therapeutic response monitoring of HCC.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.74-80
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• 2015

Purpose Breast lymphoscintigraphy is an important technique to present for body surface precisely, which shows a lymph node metastasis of malignant tumors at an early stage and is performed before and after surgery in patients with breast cancer. In this study, we evaluated several methods of body outline imaging to present exact location of lesions, as well as compared respective exposure doses. Materials and Methods RANDO phantom and SYMBIA T-16 were used for obtaining imaging. A lesion and an injection site were created by inserting a point source of 0.11 MBq on the axillary sentinel lymph node and 37 MBq on the right breast, respectively. The first method for acquiring the image was used by drawing the body surface of phantom for 30 sec using $Na^{99m}TcO_4$ as a point source. The second, the image was acquired with $^{57}Co$ flood source for 30 seconds on the rear side and the left side of the phantom, the image as the third method was obtained using a syringe filled with 37 MBq of $Na^{99m}TcO_4$ in 10 ml of saline, and as the fourth, we used a photon energy and scatter energy of $^{99m}Tc$ emitting from phantom without any addition radiation exposure. Finally, the image was fused the scout image and the basal image of SPECT/CT using MATLAB$^{(R)}$ program. Anterior and lateral images were acquired for 3 min, and radiation exposure was measured by the personal exposure dosimeter. We conducted preference of 10 images from nuclear medicine doctors by the survey. Results TBR values of anterior and right image in the first to fifth method were 334.9 and 117.2 ($1^{st}$), 266.1 and 124.4 ($2^{nd}$), 117.4 and 99.6 ($3^{rd}$), 3.2 and 7.6 ($4^{th}$), and 565.6 and 141.8 ($5^{th}$). And also exposure doses of these method were 2, 2, 2, 0, and $30{\mu}Sv$, respectively. Among five methods, the fifth method showed the highest TBR value as well as exposure dose, where as the fourth method showed the lowest TBR value and exposure dose. As a result, the last method ($5^{th}$) is the best method and the fourth method is the worst method in this study. Conclusion Scout method of SPECT/CT can be useful that provides the best values of TBR and the best score of survey result. Even though personal exposure dose when patients take scout of SPECT/CT was higher than another scan, it was slight level comparison to 1 mSv as the dose limit to non-radiation workers. If the scout is possible to less than 80 kV, exposure dose can be reduced, and also useful lesion localization provided.