• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.198-208
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• 2006

Background : Ginseng has traditionally been used in oriental countries to recover vital energy from Qi deficiency, and has shown various biomedical effects in the scientific literature. Recent reports suggest that ginseng could regulate blood pressure (BP), but much controversy still remains. Therefore, we intended to assess the anti-hypertensive effect of several ginseng types frequently used in clinics. We also investigated the anti-hypertensive effect on Koreans and Chinese, and by the body type according to Sasang Constitution Medicine (SCM). Methods : The study subjects were recruited from mildly hypertensive patients who exhibited pre-hypertension(120/80 to 139/89 mmHg) and stage I hypertension (140/90 to 159/99 mmHg) in Korea and China. After assigning the subjects into a Korean, a Chinese, a red, and an American ginseng group by randomization, we prescribed ginseng at a dose of 4.5 g per day for 4 weeks. To assess the anti-hypertensive effect, we compared the mean of systolic and diastolic BP between before and after ginseng medication using a 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitor (24 hr ABPM. We also monitored adverse effect and laboratory findings to secure the subjects' safety. In addition, all of the subjects in Korea consulted a specialist of Sasang Constitution Medicine to identify their constitutional type. Results : There were 64 subjects treated with Korean ginseng, 58 treated with Chinese ginseng, 33 treated with red ginseng, and 64 treated with American ginseng. Korean, Chinese, and American ginseng all reduced subjects' BP; Korean and Chinese ginseng showed more effect. The secondary analysis on the subjects' nationality revealed that all of the ginseng types showed more significant anti-hypertensive effect in Chinese patients than in Koreans. The third analysis on the constitutional type of SCM showed there was no significant difference in the effectiveness and the safety of ginseng among the constitutional types. Conclusions : We suggest ginseng, especially Panax ginseng without any steaming-drying process, could be useful for mild hypertension. Further, ginseng is safe regardless of subjects' constitutional type or type of ginseng within a dosage of 4.5g per day.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.233-238
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• 2011

This study was performed to investigate the FSH levels for superovulation procedure in Korean Native Cattle (Hanwoo). The effectiveness of 200 mg and 400 mg of FSH to initiate superovulation was examined in Hanwoo. Donors, at random stages of the estrous cycle, received a CIDR 7 days later, 200 mg FSH group was treated with 40, 30, 20, 10 mg FSH levels in declining doses twice daily by intramuscular injection fur 4 days. Also, 400 mg FSH group was treated with 80, 60, 40, 20 mg FSH levels. On the 3rd day administration of FSH, 25 mg $PGF_2$ ${\alpha}$ was administered and CIDR was withdrawn. Donors were artificially inseminated twice at 12 hr intervals. The donor cattle received 250 ${\mu}g$ GnRH at time of 1st insemination and embryos were recovered 8 days after the 1st insemination. As a results, average number of CL treated with FSH 200 mg was higher as $20.9{\pm}1.20$ than $15.8{\pm}0.63$ for donors treated with FSH 400 mg, respectively(p<0.05). Treated group of 200 mg FSH level increased (p<0.05) the number of embryos recovered per procedure compared to 400 mg FSH level ($18.2{\pm}1.18$ vs. $12.38{\pm}0.52$, respectively). When treatment of 200 mg FSH was performed, average transferable embryos/ova increased (p<0.05) to $14.1{\pm}1.12$ from $6.8{\pm}0.33$ of treated of 400 mg FSH. Group of 200 mg FSH increased (p<0.05) to $8.3{\pm}0.76$ from $2.0{\pm}0.26$ in morula stage compare to 400 mg FSH group. Mean of total early blastocyst and expanded blastocyst stage embryos was similar (p<0.05) between the 200 mg and 400 mg FSH levels group ($4.7{\pm}1.19$ vs. $2.9{\pm}0.18$ and $1.2{\pm}0.40$ vs. $1.9{\pm}0.17$). These results suggest that 200 mg FSH level-based superovulation protocol with CIDR may be effectively used fur production of superior embryos in Hanwoo. In other words, the less level of FSH may be effectively applied for Hanwoo (Korean Native Cattle), because Hanwoo was smaller body size than beef or daily cow.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.22
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• pp.9823-9829
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• 2014

Background: High-dose methotrexate (HD-MTX) is recognized as an efficient component of therapy against pediatric osteosarcoma in combination with other drugs such as cisplatin (CDP), carboplatin (CBDCA), doxorubicin (ADM), etoposide (VP-16) and ifosfamide (IFO). Objectives: To demonstrate the feasibility and effectiveness of the HD-MTX/CDP/DOX/VP-16/IFO [MTX(+)] protocol comparable to CDP/ADM/CBDCA/IFO [MTX(-)] for treating childhood osteosarcoma at Ramathibodi Hospital (1999-2014). Materials and Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted of osteosarcoma patients aged less than 18 years treated with two chemotherapeutic regimens between 1999 and 2014. A total of 45 patients received the MTX(-) and 21 the MTX(+) protocol. Results: Overall limb-salvage and amputation rate were 12.9% and 77.7%, respectively. Kaplan-Meier analysis results for 3-year disease free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) regardless of treatment regimens were $43.4{\pm}6.0%$ and $53.2{\pm}6.1%$ respectively. The 3-year DFS and OS were improved significantly with the MTX(+) protocol compared to MTX(-) protocol (p=0.010 and p=0.009, log rank test) [$69.8{\pm}10.5%$, $79.8{\pm}9.1%$ for MTX(+) and $31.1{\pm}6.9%$, $42.2{\pm}7.4%$ for MTX(-) protocol, respectively]. Patients with metastatic osteosarcoma treated with the MTX(+) protocol had statistically significant higher 3-year DFS and OS than those treated with the MTX(-) protocol ($66.7{\pm}13.6%$ and $15.0{\pm}8.0%$ for 3-year DFS, p=0.010, $73.3{\pm}13.2%$ and $20{\pm}8.9%$ for 3-year OS, p=0.006, respectively). The independent risk factors for having inferior 3-year DFS and OS were poor histological response (tumor necrosis <90%) and treatment with the MTX(-) protocol. The multivariate analysis identified only the treatment with the MTX(-) protocol as an independent predictor of inferior OS with a hazard ratio (HR) of 3.53 (95% confidence interval of 1.2-10.41, p=0.022). Conclusions: Our study demonstrated the tolerability, feasibility and efficacy of the HDMTX-based regimen improving the survival rate in pediatric osteosarcoma cases, in line with reports from developed countries.

• Journal of Korea Technology Innovation Society
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.22-46
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• 2007

This article introduces a recent innovation in Korea's human resources development policy in the SW sector. Facing serious problems in cultivating SW engineers such as a mismatch in supply and demand of SW workers, shortage of globally competitive SW professionals, and insufficient education and training of university graduates, the Korean government has decided to adopt a new paradigm in national SW engineering education, based on supply chain management (SCM) in manufacturing. SCM has been a major component of the corporate competitive strategy, enhancing organizational productiveness and responsiveness in a highly competitive environment. It weighs improving competitiveness of the supply chain as a whole via long-term commitment to supply chain relationships and a cooperative, integrated approach to business processes. These characteristics of SCM are believed to provide insight into a more effective IT education and university-industry collaboration. On the basis of the SCM literature, a framework for industry-oriented SW human resources development is designed, and then applied in the case of nurturing computer-software engineers in Korea. This approach is expected to fumish valuable implications not only to Korean policy makers, but also to other countries making similar efforts to enhance the effectiveness and flexibility in human resources development. The construction of SCM-based SW HRD model is first trial to apply SCM into SW HRD field. The model is divided into three kinds of primary activities and two kinds of supportive activities in the field of value chain such as SW HRD Council, SW demand and supply plan establishment and the integration of SW engineering capabilities that contribute the reduction of the skill and job matching through SW HR demand and supply collaboration.

• Journal of Korean Society of Transportation
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.31-40
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• 2003

Unsignalized intersections are classified into two-way-stop-controlled(TWSC) and all-way-stop-controlled(AWSC) intersections for the analysis of capacity and level of service. There is no AWSC intersection in Korea, but non-controlled intersections are common. Non-controlled intersections are operated only by the driver's decision without any control. However, the study for the analysis of capacity and level of service of the non-controlled intersection has been rare. As the first stage research, this study aims to determine the measure-of-effectiveness (MOE) for the performance evaluation of non-controlled intersections. The relationships between traffic volume and the intersection passing time (delay) and number of conflicts on each intersection are analyzed. It was found that the number of conflicts were more sensitive to the traffic volume compared with the delay. It means that number of conflicts can be the MOE for the performance of non-controlled intersection. The analysis of the number of conflicts and traffic volume showed a linear relationship, so that traffic volume can also be an MOE. The level of service of non-controlled intersection can be determined with either of the MOE's. Since the performance is also influenced by the ratio of traffic volumes of crossing streets, the traffic volume should be adjusted by the ratio. The capacity of non-controlled intersection was suggested to be 2,000veh/hr referring that of AWSC intersection in the USHCM. The criteria was suggested by evenly dividing the traffic volumes based on the capacity.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.511-514
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• 2013

Background: A small but significant proportion of cases with atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASCUS) may harbour CIN 2-3, or even invasive carcinoma. Although immediate colposcopy, HPV-DNA testing or expectant management are three recommended options in ASCUS triage, a consensus does not currently exist on which one of these approaches is the most efficient. In this study, we aimed to compare the performance and cost of immediate colposcopy and colposcopy based on the human papillomavirus (HPV) testing for detecting histologically confirmed high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) in women with ASCUS. Materials and Methods: Records of 594 women with an index Papanicolaou smear showing ASCUS were retrospectively analyzed. Women in the immediate colposcopy arm were referred directly to colposcopy (immediate colposcopy group, n=255) and those in the HPV triage arm were proceeded to colposcopy if the high-risk HPV (hrHPV) test was positive (HPV triage group, n=339). High grade CIN (CIN2+) detection rate and treatment costs were compared between the groups. Results: The detected rate of CIN2+ was higher in the HPV triage group compared to immediate colposcopy group (8% vs. 1.6%, p=0.011). In the HPV triage group, the total cost, cost per patient, and the cost for detecting one case of high grade CIN were higher than the immediate colposcopy group (p<0.001). Conclusions: In women with ASCUS cytology, HPV DNA testing followed by colposcopy is more costly than immediate colposcopy, but this approach is associated with a higher rate of CIN2+ detection. This findings suggest that HPV DNA testing combined with cervical cytology could reduce the referral rate to colposcopy.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.178-185
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• 2020

Rice bakanae is a typical seed-borne and seed-transmitted disease caused by infection by Fusarium fujikuroi. Seed disinfection using chemical fungicides (such as benomyl and prochloraz) is most effective in controlling the disease, but the emergence of fungicide-resistant strains has recently been increasing. Slightly acidic hypochlorous acid water (SAHW) is a safe and environmentally friendly disinfectant that has a potent and broad spectrum of antimicrobial activity against viruses, bacteria, and fungi. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effectiveness of SAHW against F. fujikuroi strains, including chemical fungicide-resistant strains, as an alternative to conventional chemical fungicides in the management of bakanae disease. SAHW showed strong but similar levels of antifungal activity among the F. fujikuroi strains with a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC₉₀) of 5±2.5 ppm of free available chlorine (FAC). In addition, F. fujikuroi cells lost viability completely within 5 min of SAHW treatment due to the lethal damage to cell integrity. When the rice seeds infected by F. fujikuroi were treated with SAHW containing 20±10 ppm of FAC for 12 hr, the efficiencies of seed disinfection and disease control were 95-98% and 90.1-92.6%, respectively. Altogether, our data suggest that SAHW is an effective compound for controlling rice bakanae disease.

• Horticultural Science & Technology
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.151-155
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• 2011

The fungus Botrytis cinerea causes fruit rot of strawberry and the damages can result in harvest losses upto 50%. Proper timing of fungicide application is essential for successful control of Botrytis fruit rot, fenhexamid plus iminoctadine tris, cyprodinil plus fludioxonil, fludioxonil alone, and Bacillus subtilis QST713 were applied to individual buds, flowers, and green and red fruit of cultivar 'Seolhyang' ex vivo. Cyprodinil plus fludioxonil or fludioxonil alone was applied i) before and after a 5-hr period of low-temperature ($0^{\circ}C$) incubation ex vivo ii) in field trials. Strawberry flowers and red fruit were more susceptible to B. cinerea than the green fruits. Incidence of Botrytis rot with fenhexamid plus iminoctadine tris and cyprodinil plus fludioxonil was the lowest at flowering, whereas B. subtilis QST713 did not significantly among treatments. In 2010, incidence of Botrytis fruit rot was significantly reduced when fludioxonil was applied two times at 1 week intervals from 50% bloom in field trials. Cultivars Redpearl and Seolhyang were more susceptible to low-temperature than cvs. Maehyang and Akihime. Cyprodinil plus fludioxonil application was effective when applied before onset of the low-temperature treatment period. Fludioxonil showed the most effective when it was sprayed one and more than two times in before and post low-temperature condition, respectively. These results demonstrate that fungicide selection and timing can interact with stage of fruit development and low-temperature in determining effectiveness of suppression of Botrytis fruit rot.

• The Journal of Information Technology
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.45-55
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• 2002

Virtual Reality(VR) is a new technology which makes humans communicate with computer. It allows the user to see, hear, feel and interact in a three-dimensional virtual world created graphically. In this paper, we introduced VR into psychotherapy area and developed VR system for the exposure therapy of acrophobia. Acrophobia is an abnormal fear of heights. Medications or cognitive-behavior methods have been mainly used as a treatment. Lately the virtual reality technology has been applied to that kind of anxiety disorders. A virtual environment provides patient with stimuli which arouses phobia, and exposing to that environment makes him having ability to over come the fear. In this study, the elevator stimulator that composed with a position sensor, head mount display, and audio system, is suggested. To illustrate the physiological difference between a person who has a feel of phobia and without phobia, heart rate was measured during experiment. And also measured a person's HR after the virtual reality training. In this study, we demonstrated the subjective effectiveness of virtual reality psychotherapy through the clinical experiment.

• Research in Plant Disease
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.201-207
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• 2015

This study was conducted to establish a simple mass-screening method for resistant melon to Fusarium wilt caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. melonis (FOM). Root-dipping inoculation method has been used to investigate resistance of melon plants to Fusarium wilt. However, the inoculation method requires a lot of labor and time because of complicate procedure. To develop a simple screening method on melon Fusarium wilt, occurrence of Fusarium wilt on susceptible and resistant cultivars of melon according to inoculation method including root-dipping, soil-drenching, tip, and scalpel methods was investigated. Scalpel and tip methods showed more clear resistant and susceptible responses in the melon cultivars than root-dipping inoculation method, but tip method represented slightly variable disease severity. In contrast, in the case of soil-drenching inoculation method, disease severity of the susceptible cultivars was very low. Thus we selected scalpel method as inoculation method of a simple screening method for melon Fusarium wilt. By using the scalpel inoculation method, resistance degrees of the cultivars according to incubation temperature after inoculation (25 and $30^{\circ}C$) and inoculum concentration ($1{\times}10^6$ and $1{\times}10^7conidia/ml$) were measured. The resistance or susceptibility of the cultivars was hardly affected by all the tested conditions. To look into the effectiveness of scalpel inoculation methods, resistance of 22 commercial melon cultivars to FOM was compare with root-dipping inoculation method. When the melon cultivars were inoculated by scalpel method, resistance responses of all the tested cultivars were clearly distinguished as by root-dipping method. Taken together, we suggest that an efficient simple mass-screening method for resistant melon plant to Fusarium wilt is to sow the seeds of melon in a pot (70 ml of soil) and to grow the seedlings in a greenhouse ($25{\pm}5^{\circ}C$) for 7 days, to cut the root of seedlings with a scalpel and then pour a 10 ml-aliquot of the spore suspension of $1{\times}10^6conidia/ml$ on soil. The infected plants were cultivated in a growth room at 25 to $30^{\circ}C$ for about 3 weeks with 12-hr light a day.