• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.317-324
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• 2007

Fluorescence measurements of dissolved organic matter(DOM) have the superior advantages over other analysis tools for applying to water quality management. A preliminary study was conducted to test the feasibility of applying synchronous fluorescence measurements for tracing and monitoring pollution sources in a small stream located in an upstream area of the Sooyoung watershed in Busan. The water quality of the small stream is affected by leachate from sawdust pile and discharge of untreated sewage. The sampling sites included an upstream site, two pipes discharging untreated sewage, leachate from sawdust, and a downstream site. Of the five field samples, the leachate was distinguished from the other samples by a high peak at a lower wavelength range and a blunt peak at 350nm, suggesting that synchronous fluorescence can be used as a discrimination tool for monitoring the pollution. The efficacy of various indices derived from the spectral features to discriminate the pollution source was tested for well-defined mixture of the sawdust leachate and the upstream stream by comparing (1)the difference between measured values and those predicted based on mass balance and the characteristics of the two samples and (2)the linear correlations between index values and mass ratios of the sample mixtures. Of various discrimination indices selected, fluorescence intensities at 276 nm$({\Delta}\lambda=30nm)$and 347 nm$({\Delta}\lambda=60nm)$ were suggested as promising potential discrimination indices for the sawdust pollution source. Despite the limited number of samples and the study area, this study illustrates the evaluation process that should be followed to develop rapid, low-cost discrimination indices to monitor pollution sources based on end member mixing analyses.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.56 no.5
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• pp.505-513
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• 2004

Background : In lung cancer patients, the presence of metastatic neck nodes is a crucial indicator of inoperabilty. So thorough physical examination of neck is always mandatory, but sometimes those are hardly palpable even by the skillful hand. Ultrasonography is a useful diagnostic method in detection of small impalpable lymph nodes and in guidance of fine needle aspiration biopsy. In this study we evaluated the clinical usefulness of ultrasonography(USG) and ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration cytology(US-FNA) in lung cancer patients without palpable neck nodes. Methods and Materials : From Sep 2002 to Sep 2003, 36 non-small cell lung cancer patients (20 adenocarcinoma, 16 squamous cell cancer) and 10 small cell lung cancer patients without palpable neck nodes on physical examiation were enrolled. patients who had contralateral mediastinal nodal enlargement(>1cm) on chest CT were excluded. After the routine check of USG on the neck, US-FNA was done in cases with enlarged neck nodes (${\geq}5mm$ in the short axis). The presence of enlarged lymph node on USG, and of malignant cells on cytology were evaluated by the histological type and the patients' clinical stage of lung cancer. Results : Among 36 non-small lung cell cancer patients, 14 (38.8%) had enlarged neck nodes on USG, and 5 of 10 small cell lung carcinoma patients. The mean diameter of the neck nodes was 9.8 mm (range, 7-12 mm). US-FNA of 14 non-small cell lung cancer patients revealed tumor cells in eight patients (57.1%). In 5 small cell lung cancer pateints, tumor cells were found in all cases. By the result of US-FNA, the clinical stage of 8 out of 36 (22.2%) non-small cell lung cancer patients had changed, including two cases of shift from the operable IIIa to the inoperable IIIb. In small cell lung cancer patients their clinical stage was not changed after US-FNA, but their pathological diagnosis was easily done in two cases, in whom endobronchial lesions were not found on bronchoscopy. Conclusions : USG and US-FNA of neck node seem to be safe, sensitive and cost-effective diagnostic tools in the evaluation of lung cancer patients without palpable neck nodes.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.25-33
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• 2002

Serotonin transporter(5-HTT) is one of the major action site of antidepressants in neuronal cells. According to the recent studies, it is known that the functional polymorphism in the promoter region of the 5-HTT gene(5-HTT linked polymorphism repetitive element in promoter region, 5-HTTLPR) is associated with antidepressant responsiveness, and the distributions of 5-HTTLPR is various among the different populations. Our preliminary study suggested that it is possible to measure the endophenotype of 5-HTTLPR genotype by examining the pharmacodynamic research of the 5-HTT in platelet membranes. However, there are limitations to predicting the antidepressant responsiveness only from the endophenotypic characteristics of 5-HTT gene promoter polymorphism, and therefore we propose to use the pharmacogenomic methods for overcoming these limitations. We found that the significant correlations existed among the genetic polymorphisms of biogenic amine transporters whose structure and characteristics are similar to the 5-HTT, and the predictable odds ratio of antidepressant responsiveness are increased significantly by combining the effect with other associated polymorphisms, compared to the effect of 5-HTT promoter polymorphism only. These results support the hypothesis that antidepressant treatment has to be individualized according to the genetic and ethnic background of depressed patients. It would be possible to develope the evaluation tools to predict the antidepressant responsiveness and its side effect profile, if scientists reveal the genes related to the action mechanism as well as the metabolism of antidepressants so as to discover the interaction of those genes and contribution of endogenotypes toward antidepressant responsiveness.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.140-149
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• 1997

Purpose : Kawasaki Disease(KD) is a febrile disease with acute multisystemic vasculitis which is seen commonly in early childhood. The cause and etiologic agents are still unknown to identify using ordinary bacterial and viral culture, but the clinical labaratory studies suggest that KD is one of autoimmune disorder caused by infectious agents, but that is not proved yet. The study was performed to investigate the IgG subclasses in acute stage of KB before treatment of IVIG(Intravenous immunoglobulin). Method : The 35 cases in acute stage of KD before treatment of IVIG who were hospitalized from jan. 1995 to dec. 1996. The obtained sera were measured level of total IgG, IgM, IgA, IgE and IgG subclasses IgGl, IgG2, IgG3, IgG4 by using EIA and SRID method. Results : 1) The sex ratio is male to female is 1.5: 1.0, and male is prone to infected. 2) Total IgG, IgM, IgA and IgE level is normal range with age adjusted, but few cases are shown slight high level of total IgG compare to normal range of age adjusted. 3) acute phage reactants such as CRP, C3, ESR are all increased in acute stage of cases. 4) IgG subclasses IgGl, IgG2, IgG3 are shown normal range of age adjusted, but remarkably low level of IgG4 in all of cases. Conclusions : The low level of IgG4 is able to increasing the incidence of KD, and may use early diagnostic tools combine with other clinical symptoms and signs. But the resulsts of reported studies are different to each other, so it needs more times and cases to get final evaluation of changes of serum immnunoglobulin levels correlate to increase the incidence of high risk group of KD patients.

• Journal of Korean Society of Transportation
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• v.23 no.7 s.85
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• pp.165-179
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• 2005

The object of this study is a development of a stochastic user equilibrium transit assignment algorithm for multiple user classes considering stochastic characteristics and heterogeneous attributes of passengers. The existing transit assignment algorithms have limits to attain realistic results because they assume a characteristic of passengers to be equal. Although one group with transit information and the other group without it have different trip patterns, the past studies could not explain the differences. For overcoming the problems, we use following methods. First, we apply a stochastic transit assignment model to obtain the difference of the perceived travel cost between passengers and apply a multiple user class assignment model to obtain the heterogeneous qualify of groups to get realistic results. Second, we assume that person trips have influence on the travel cost function in the development of model. Third, we use a C-logit model for solving IIA(independence of irrelevant alternatives) problems. According to repetition assigned trips and equivalent path cost have difference by each group and each path. The result comes close to stochastic user equilibrium and converging speed is very fast. The algorithm of this study is expected to make good use of evaluation tools in the transit policies by applying heterogeneous attributes and OD data.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.38 no.1 s.246
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• pp.56-62
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• 2005

Because of high morbidity and mortality, traumatic diaphragm injury remains a diagnostic challenge. In this study, we evaluate that some factors and scores can be used as predictors. Material and Method: From May 1995 to June 2003, 23 patients with traumatic diaphragm injury were enrolled. We examined the clinical features of patients. RTS, TRISS, ISS and APACHE II scores for each patient are calculated for analyzing the relationship of mortality and ICU duration. Result: The study identified 15 men $(65.2{\%})$ and 8women $(34.8{\%})$. There are right sided diaphragmatic injury in 11 patients $(47.8{\%})$, left sided in 11 $(47.8{\%})$, and both sided in 1 ($0.4{\%}$). Plain X-ray, CT, upper GI contrast study and esophagogastroscopy were used as diagnostic tools. Age, hemodynamic status, early diagnosis are not associated with outcome. As prognostic factor, RTS and ISS are associated with mortality and there was negative relationship between RTS and ICU duration (r=0.737, p=0.026). Conclusion: An early diagnosis of traumatic diaphragm injury can frequently be missed in the acute trauma setting. So high index of suspicion and a careful examination are important in multiple trauma patients. An RTS can probably be used effectively as a predictor for the severity and prognosis in patients with traumatic diaphragm injury.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.439-444
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• 2016

In the present study, the performance of culture methods using two selective agars and real-time PCR were compared for selective isolation of Cronobacter in powdered infant formula and dried pumpkin. Two food samples were spiked with the pathogen and then preenriched in distilled water. A small portion of preenrichment (10 mL) was incubated in Enterobacteriaceae enrichment both, followed by inoculation onto Druggan-Forsythe-Iversen agar (DFI agar) and Cronobacter sakazakii chromogenic plating agar (R&F agar). The preenrichment and enrichment (1 mL each) was used in real-time PCR assay. In powdered infant formula (PIF), no statistical difference was observed between both culture methods and real-time PCR with preenrichemt (p > 0.05). However, the number of positives obtained by R&F agar and real-time PCR was much higher than that of culture method using DFI agar in dried pumpkin (p < 0.05). In particular, R&F agar yielded a significantly greater selectivity than DFI agar in dried pumpkin (p < 0.05). Real-time PCR and R&F agar, which are currently recommended by US FDA, could be used as an alternative detection tools for the isolation of Cronobacter in PIF and ingredient of child foods such as dried pumpkin that has high number of competing natural microflora.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.51 no.4
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• pp.377-382
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• 2008

Purpose : The aim of this study is to assess the usefulness of skin test by an inactivated, 1/50 diluted solution of attenuated varicella vaccine in evaluating the immune status to varicella. Methods : Total 41 subjects (22 males, 19 females, aged 1-32 years) were enrolled from July to August, 2005. Past medical history including varicella infection, varicella vaccination were investigated through questionnaires. The skin test solution was prepared from solution of attenuated varicella vaccine(Oka strain) which was inactivated by exposure to room temperature for 10 days and diluted at 1/50 with normal saline. Skin test was done by injecting 0.1 mL of the solution intradermally into the volar surface of the right forearm and sterile normal saline was used as a control on the left forearm. Positive reaction was defined when the transverse diameter of the induration was 5 mm or more. Serum varicella zoster virus specific IgG antibody test by ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) was done. Results : In adults, the sensitivity of the varicella zoster virus skin test compared to ELISA was 94.7% and the positive predictive value was 100%. In children, both the positive predictive value and specificity were 100% but the sensitivity and the negative predictive value were 50% and 30.7% respectively. Children showed smaller skin test reactivity compared to adults. Conclusion : The varicella zoster virus skin test using inactivated, 1/50 diluted solution of attenuated varicella vaccine was proved as one of the useful tools for evaluating the immunity and susceptibility of the varicella zoster virus.

• Journal of Intelligence and Information Systems
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.1-22
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• 2009

The World Wide Web is transitioning from being a mere collection of documents that contain useful information toward providing a collection of services that perform useful tasks. The emerging Web service technology has been envisioned as the next technological wave and is expected to play an important role in this recent transformation of the Web. By providing interoperable interface standards for application-to-application communication, Web services can be combined with component based software development to promote application interaction and integration both within and across enterprises. To make Web services for service-oriented computing operational, it is important that Web service repositories not only be well-structured but also provide efficient tools for developers to find reusable Web service components that meet their needs. As the potential of Web services for service-oriented computing is being widely recognized, the demand for effective Web service discovery mechanisms is concomitantly growing. A number of techniques for Web service discovery have been proposed, but the discovery challenge has not been satisfactorily addressed. Unfortunately, most existing solutions are either too rudimentary to be useful or too domain dependent to be generalizable. In this paper, we propose a Web service organizing framework that combines clustering techniques with string matching and leverages the semantics of the XML-based service specification in WSDL documents. We believe that this is one of the first attempts at applying data mining techniques in the Web service discovery domain. Our proposed approach has several appealing features : (1) It minimizes the requirement of prior knowledge from both service consumers and publishers; (2) It avoids exploiting domain dependent ontologies; and (3) It is able to visualize the semantic relationships among Web services. We have developed a prototype system based on the proposed framework using an unsupervised artificial neural network and empirically evaluated the proposed approach and tool using real Web service descriptions drawn from operational Web service registries. We report on some preliminary results demonstrating the efficacy of the proposed approach.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.536-542
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• 1999

Background: The purpose of this study is to improve the quality of the diagnostic procedures in the preoperative evaluation so as to reduce the unnecessary thoracotomy and to ensure resectability in non-small cell lung cancer. Material and Method: Of 616 patients who underwent thoracotomy for primary lung cancer from January 1990 to December 1996, 59 patients(9.6%) turned out to have inoperable lesions after the thoracotomy. We reprospectively reviewed the bronchoscopic findings, methods of tissue diagnosis, CT scans, pulmonary function test and lung perfusion scan, reasons for nonresectability, and adjuvant therapy, and then followed up on the survival rate after exploratory thoracotomy. Result: The cell types were squamous cell carcinoma in 38, adenocarcinoma in 15, large cell carcinoma in 3 and others in 3. Primary loci were RUL in 20, RML in 6, RLL in 8, LUL in 13, LLL in 4 and others in 8. The reasons for non-resectability were various; direct tumor invaison to mediastinal structures(n=41), seeding on pleural cavity(n=8), poor pulmonary function(n=2), invasions to extranodal mediastinal lymph node(n=2), technical non- resectability due to extensive chest wall invasion (n=3), small cell carcinoma (n=1), malignant lymphoma(n=1), and multiple rib metastases(n=1). In the follow-up of 58 patients, 1-year survival rate was 55.2% and 2-year survival rate was 17.2% and the mean survival time was 14 months. When compared according to cell types or postoperative adjuvant therapeutic modalities, no significant difference in the survival rates were found. The squamous cell carcinoma was frequently accompanied by local extension to contiguous structures and was the main cause of non-resectability. In adenocarcinoma, pleural seeding with malignant effusion was frequently encountered, and was the major reason for non-resectability. Conclusion: These data revealed that if appropriate preoperative diagnostic tools had been available, many unnecessary thoracotomies could have been avoided. Both the use of thoracoscopy in selected cases of adenocarcinoma and the more aggressive surgical approach to the locally advanced tumor could reduce the incidence of unnecessary thoracotomies for non-small cell lung cancers.