• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.15-20
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• 2021

Purpose This article studies the relationship between the length of a kidney measured by two scanning methods: Kidney Computed Tomography (CT) and ^99mTc-Dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) renal scan. Kidney CT provides a better anatomic assessment, while ^99mTc-DMSA renal scan is superior in the kidney function test. Materials and Methods From January to December of 2019, two hundred patients who had Kidney CT and Tc^99m-DMSA renal scan were chosen for this study. SPSS17.0 was selected for statistical analysis. Results Due to the effect of the breathing and resolution of ^99mTc-DMSA renal scan, it showed the kidney's relatively longer length than the length of Kidney CT. For the same kidney, the length comparison among different brands' Gamma cameras was negligible. The length difference within the same age group did not show a noticeable discrepancy. However, there was a length difference between the radio technologists. Kidney CT and ^99mTc-DMSA renal scan indicated a strong positive correlation between the length of the left and right kidney. Conclusion It is necessary to establish a standardized measurement method for measuring kidney length using ^99mTc-DMSA renal scan. The kidney's functional changes and length changes are indications of Kidney diseases. Especially, pediatric patients tend to use ^99mTc-DMSA renal scan for assessing the kidney's shape and the function to avoid potential radiation exposure during the Kidney CT. Therefore, it is significant to provide not only the kidney's functional information but also an anatomic analysis, including the kidney's size, length, and location through the ^99mTc-DMSA renal scan.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.559-567
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• 2021

This study compared the nutritional characteristics and antioxidant effects of sea mustards sourced from five different areas (Barammaegi, Gultongmeori, Chanmulgae, Johongtaek, and Goraedeung) in Taejongdae, Youngdo, Busan. The contents of total flavonoids and phenols and fatty acid composition were measured. To evaluate their antioxidant effects, 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2'-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) assays were used. Acetone/methylene chloride (A+M) extracts from all the sea mustards contained higher amounts of total flavonoids and phenols than methanol (MeOH) extracts. Among the sea mustards obtained from the different areas, the total flavonoid and total phenolic content of the A+M extract of the sea mustard from Gultongmeori was 1.44±0.04 mg/g and 1.72±0.06 mg/g, respectively. In terms of the fatty acid composition, the Gultongmeori sea mustard had higher percentages of total n-6, total n-3, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, 20:5n-3), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, 22:6n-3) than the sea mustards from the other areas. The A+M extract of the sea mustard from Gultongmeori was more effective in terms of scavenging free radicals as compared with that of the other sea mustards, as assessed by the DPPH and ABTS assays (p<0.05). In a 120-minute reactive oxygen species (ROS) production assay, all the extracts tested decreased cellular ROS production induced by H₂O₂ compared to that produced by exposure to an extract-free control (p<0.05). The extracts from Barammaegi and Gultongmeori had a greater inhibitory effect on cellular ROS production. These results indicated that the antioxidant effects of sea mustards might be associated with a higher amount of flavonoids and phenols. This study suggests that food-processed products from sea mustard can be developed as functional foods for promoting health in the local population.

• Conservation Science in Museum
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• v.26
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• pp.25-34
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• 2021

3D printing technology has been actively applied for the restoration of cultural properties. However, its application to the restoration of glass cultural properties has not yet been reported and thus requires further study. In this study, 3D printing technology was used to restore a defective part of a glass sarira bottle that forms an element of a series of sarira reliquaries commissioned by Yi Seonggye (known as King Taejo after founding the Joseon Dynasty) that was excavated from Geumgangsan Mountain (designated as Treasure No. 1925) and is currently housed at the National Museum of Korea. The defective area was reproduced using 3D printing and the printed reproduction was reproduced again using an epoxy resin. This latter piece was used as the restoration component rather than the 3D printed element. After the completion of the conservation treatment, the materials used for the 3D printing were compared with transparent materials used to restore ceramics to evaluate their usability and stability. A total of five specimens were produced, including from photocurable resin made by a stereo lithography apparatus (SLA), epoxy resin, acrylic resin, and more. They were exposed to UV for 96 hours to test for yellowing. Of the two specimens made of photocurable resins and exposed to UV, one was sprayed with a UV blocking agent but the other was exposed as-is. The UV exposure test showed that the specimen made by the SLA and sprayed with a UV blocking agent and the specimen made of epoxy resin were stable in terms of yellowing with a change in the b-value was less than 1. They are thus considered to be suitable materials for the restoration of glass cultural properties. Such glass cultural properties are often diverse in shape and their restoration can be difficult as they generally consist of a range of complex parts that hamper restoration. In this regard, diverse materials should be considered when selecting materials for the restoration of glass cultural properties.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.67-75
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• 2022

The aim of this study is to establish a new QC method that can simultaneously evaluate the resolution of the x/y plane and the z-axis by producing a phantom that can reflect exposure and reconstruction parameter of MDCT system. It was used with Aquilion ONE(Cannon Medical System, Otawara, Japan), and the examination was scanned using of 120 kV, 260 mA, and the D-FOV of 300 mm². It produced new SSP phantom modules in which two aluminum plates inclined at 45° to a vertical axis and a transverse axis to evaluate high contrast resolution of x/y plane and z axis. And it changed factors such as the algorithm, distance from gantry iso-center. All images were reconstructed in five steps from 0.6 mm to 10.0 mm slice thickness to measure resolution of x/y plane and z-axis. The image data measured FWHM and FWTM using Profile tool of Aquarius iNtusion Edition ver. 4.4.13 P6 software(Terarecon, California, USA), and analysed SPQI and signal intensity by ImageJ program(v1.53n, National Institutes of Health, USA). It decreased by 4.09~11.99%, 4.12~35.52%, and 4.70~37.64% in slice thickness of 2.5 mm, 5.0 mm, and 10.0 mm for evaluating the high contrast resolution of x/y plane according to distance from gantry iso-center. Therefore, the high contrast resolution of the x/y plane decreased when the distance from the iso-center increased or the slice thickness increased. Additionally, the slice thicknesses of 2.5 mm, 5.0 mm, and 10.0 mm with a high algorithm increased 74.83, 15.18 and 81.25%. The FWHM was almost constant on the measured SSP graph for evaluating the accuracy of slice thickness which represents the resolution of x/y plane and z-axis, but it was measured to be higher than the nominal slice thickness set by user. The FWHM and FWTM of z-axis with axial scan mode tended to increase significantly as the distance increased from gantry iso-center than the helical mode. Particularly, the thinner slice thickness that increased error range compare with the nominal slice thickness. The SPQI increased with thick slice thickness, and that was closer to 90% in the helical scan than the axial scan. In conclusion, by producing a phantom suitable for MDCT detectors and capable of quantitative resolution evaluation, it can be used as a specific method in the management of research quality and management of outdated equipment. Thus, it is expected to contribute greatly to the discrimination of lesions in the field of CT imaging.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Marine Environment & Safety
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.853-865
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• 2022

In this study, from August to October 2019, we conducted a survey of the spatial distribution and dominant species of macrobenthos on the rocky intertidal zones of 38 specified islands distributed along the southern coast of Korea. On the basis of observation made using 50 × 50 cm quadrats, we identified a total of 80 species, among which, Mollusca were the most abundant fauna, with 54 species that accounted for 67.4% of the total, followed by Crustacea with 15 species (18.7%). The recorded numbers of Cnidaria, Porifera, and Echinodermata species ranged from 1 to 6. In terms of the regional patterns of species richness, specified islands in Yeosu were found to be the most species rich, supporting 61 species, whereas islands in Hadong, Namhae, and Chujado were found to have a similar level of species richness, ranging from 42 to 46 species. Islands in Boseong and Goheung were home to the fewest species, with only 29 species being recorded. At the sampling station scale, we noted a considerable difference in faunal richness, ranging from 6 (St. 6) to 33 (St. 20) species. Among the recorded species, Echinolittorina radiata was identified as the dominant species on 15 specified islands, with the next most abundant species being Tetraclita japonica, considered an indicator species of climate change, which was recorded on 11 islands. In terms of frequency, E. radiata, found on 36 islands, was identified as the most frequently occurring species, followed by Reishia clavigera (30 islands), Mytilisepta virgata (29), Nerita japonica (28), Ligia. exotica (27), and Littorina brevicula (26). Of the 80 species identified, 9, 4, and 2 species of Mollusca, Crustacea, and Cnidaria, respectively, are classified as Marine fauna of accepted foreign export, whereas 50 are Red List species, 44 are species of Least Concern, 3 are Data Deficient species, and 1 species was not evaluated. However, during the survey, we found no Near Threatened or Not Applicable species. On the basis of the findings of this survey, it would appear that the abundance and richness of macrobenthic fauna inhabiting the rocky intertidal zones of specified islands along the southern coast of Korea differ according to different habitat conditions, particularly with respect to the duration of exposure and the extent and properties of the substrata. The findings of this study will provide baseline data for future monitoring and management of specified islands in Korea.

• Journal of Popular Narrative
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.243-277
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• 2020

This paper examines a social and cultural history of horror films through the keyword "technology", focusing on The Spark of Fear: Technology, Society and the Horror Film (2015) written by Brian N. Duchaney. Science fiction film is closely connected with technology in film genres. On the other hand, horror films have been explained in terms of nature/supernatural. In this regard, The Spark of Fear, which accounts for horror film history as (re)actions to the development of technology, is remarkable. Early horror films which were produced under the influence of gothic novels reflected the fear of technology that had been caused by industrial capitalism. For example, in the film Frankenstein (1931), an angry crowd of people lynch the "monster", the creature of technology. This is the action which is aroused by the fear of technology. Furthermore, this mob behavior is suggestive of an uprising of people who have been alienated by industrial capitalism during the Great Depression. In science fiction horror films, which appeared in the post-war boom, the "other" that manifests as aliens is the entity that destroys the value of prosperity during post-war America. While this prosperity is closely related to the life of the middle class in accordance with the suburbanization, the people live conformist lives under the mantle of technologies such as the TV, refrigerator, etc. In the age of the Vietnam War, horror films demonize children, the counter-culture generation against a backdrop of the house that is the place of isolation and confinement. In this place, horror arises from the absolute absence of technology. While media such as videos, internet, and smartphones have reinforced interconnectedness with the outside world since the 1980s, it became another outside influence that we cannot control. "Found-footage" and "torture porn" which were rife in post-9/11 horror films show that the technologies of voyeurism/surveillance and exposure/exhibitionism are near to saturation. In this way, The Spark of Fear provides an opportune insight into the present day in which the expectation and fear of the progress of technology are increasingly becoming inseparable from our daily lives.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.388-408
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• 2022

This study was conducted to select the indicator species (plant) according to the topographical characteristics in the Picea jezoensis forests, endangered subalpine coniferous trees. In South Korea and China (close to Baekdusan), the southern tree line limit of Picea jezoensis has meaningful geographical and latitudinal values for analyzing the ecological characteristics of P. jezoensis forests. Latitude greatly affects the geographical values of plant ecology, and the difference in latitude and habitat affects the change in species composition in forests. With prolonged environmental change, the habitat of subalpine plants will become smaller, and the plants may become extinct. As the P. jezoensis forests of South Korea and China, in particular, are in danger of disappearing without protection, it is important to monitor the population and develop a conservation strategy. Eighty-seven circular plots were established in P. jezoensis forests in South Korea and China. Through processes such as MRPP-test and NMS ordination, indicator species were selected based on this, and basic data for biodiversity assessment were presented. As a result of the Indicator Species Analysis (ISA), 5 taxa were selected from the upperstory vegetation and 18 taxa from the understory vegetation at the altitude(p<0.05). Indicator species by aspect were analyzed as 3 taxa for upperstory vegetation and 16 taxa for understory vegetation (p<0.05). In the case of indicator species according to the slope, 6 taxa for upper vegetation and 24 taxa for understory vegetation were selected(p<0.05). As for the indicator species according to their habitat, 8 taxa in upper vegetation and 65 taxa on understory vegetation were selected. As a result of MRPP-test, it was analyzed that the species composition was heterogeneous in the group of understory vegetation than that of upperstory vegetation. As a result of NMS ordination, the correlation with environmental factors of indicator species was analyzed by rock exposure for upperstory vegetation and latitude for understory vegetation (cut off level=0.3).

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF PACKAGING SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.175-182
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• 2022

Heavy metals can be intentionally or unintentionally introduced into plastic food utensils, containers, and packaging (PFUCP) as additives or contaminants, which can be ingested with food by humans. Here, seven-heavy metals (lead, cadmium, nickel, chromium, antimony, copper, and manganese) with toxicity concerns were selected, and risk assessment was done by establishing their migration from 137 PFUCP products made of 16 materials distributed in Korea. Migration of heavy metals was examined by applying 4% acetic acid as a food simulant (70℃, 30 minutes) to the PFUCP products. Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) was employed for the analysis of migrated heavy metals, and the reliability of quantitative results was confirmed by checking linearity, LOD, LOQ, recovery, precision, and expanded uncertainty. As a result of monitoring, heavy metals were detected at a level of non-detection to 8.76 ± 11.87 ㎍/L and most of the heavy metals investigated were only detected at trace amounts of less than 1 ㎍/L on average. However, antimony migrated from PET products was significantly higher than other groups. Risk assessment revealed that all the heavy metals investigated were safe with a margin of exposure above 311. Collectively, we demonstrated that heavy metals migrated from PFUCP products distributed in Korea appear to be within the safe range.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.32 no.11
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• pp.833-840
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• 2022

Chronic inflammation has been shown to be closely associated with tumor development and progression. Nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) is composed of a family of five transcription factors. NF-κB signaling plays a crucial role in the inflammatory response and is often found to be dysregulated in various types of cancer, making it an attractive target in cancer therapeutics. In this study, CDC-like kinase 3 (CLK3) was identified as a novel kinase that regulates the NF-κB signaling pathway. Our data demonstrate that CLK3 inhibits the canonical and non-canonical NF-κB pathways. Luciferase assays following the transient or stable expression of CLK3 indicated that this kinase inhibited NF-κB activation mediated by Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFα) and Phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA), which are known to activate NF-κB signaling via the canonical pathway. Consistent with data on the ectopic expression of CLK3, CLK3 knockdown using shRNA constructs increased NF-κB activity 1.5-fold upon stimulation with TNFα in HEK293 cells compared with the control cells. Additionally, overexpression of CLK3 suppressed the activation of this signaling pathway induced by NF-κB-inducing kinase (NIK) or CD40, which are well-established activators of the non-canonical pathway. To further examine the negative impact of CLK3 on NF-κB signaling, we performed Western blotting following the TNFα treatment to directly identify the molecular components of the NF-κB pathway that are affected by this kinase. Our results revealed that CLK3 mitigated the phosphorylation/activation of transforming growth factor-α-activated kinase 1 (TAK1), inhibitor of NF-κB kinase alpha/beta (IKKα/α), NF-κB p65 (RelA), NF-κB inhibitor alpha (IκBα), and Extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2-Mitogen-activated protein kinase (ERK1/2-MAPK), suggesting that CLK3 inhibits both the NF-κB and MAPK signaling activated by TNFα exposure. Further studies are required to elucidate the mechanism by which CLK3 inhibits the canonical and non-canonical NF-κB pathways. Collectively, these findings reveal CLK3 as a novel negative regulator of NF-κB signaling.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.32 no.11
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• pp.865-871
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• 2022

Tenebrio molitor larvae is well known as edible insect. Then, although it has been widely studied that Tenebrio molitor larvae has various bioactive functions such as antioxidant, anti-wrinkle, and anticancer. Nevertheless, antioxidant effects of Tenebrio molitor larvae water extract (TMH) has not been well described in Adult Retina Pigment Epithelial cell line (ARPE-19). In this study, we demonstrated that antioxidant effects of TMH against H₂O₂-induced oxidative stress in ARPE-19. Thus, we selected for our studies and performed a series of dose-response assay to determine the working concentration that lead to a consistent and high degree of cytotoxicity, which we defined as the level of H₂O₂ that killed 40% of the ARPE-19 cells. ARPE-19 cells were pre-treated with various concentrations of TMH (0.1 up to 2 mg/ml) before exposure to 300 µM H₂O₂. As we expected, TMH effectively prevented ARPE-19 cells from 300 µM H₂O₂-induced cell death in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, TMH inhibited the phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) such as extracellular signal regulated kinase (ERK), c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), and p38. Overall, the inhibitory effects of TMH on H₂O₂-induced apoptosis and oxidative stress were associated with the protection cleaved caspase-3, Bax, Bcl-2, and HO-1. The TMH suppressed H₂O₂-induced cell membrane leakage and oxidative stress in ARPE-19 cells. Thus, these results suggest that the TMH plays an important role in antioxidant effect in ARPE-19.