• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.113-119
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• 2000

Purpose : Rotavirus is a most common etiologic agent of pediatric gastroenteritis. The standard method to diagnose rotavirus infection was the detection of viral particles in specimens through electron microscopy. But it was complex. Enzyme immunoassay and latex agglutinin are preferred because they are relatively handy, inexpensive and take a short time, in comparison with electron microscopy. However, several reports have shown that the use of ELISA to diagnose rotavirus infection in neonates can result in false positive reactions. The main purpose of this study is to compare ELISA and RT-PCR in the diagnosis of neonatal rotavirus infection. Methods : Data presented in this study were obtained form 123 newborn babies in the nursery of the Fatima Hospital, Masan, Korea, form Jury to December, 1997. We obtained two samples of stool from each of the newborn babies and then performed the Rotazyme test and the RT-PCR. In the Rotazyme test, the results were interpreted according to visual findings. The samples were used for the RT-PCR test after at stock $-30^{\circ}C$ to identify rotavirus group A. The result of the two tests were compared. Results : The informations are divided into 73 males and females. Out of the total informations 15 were transferred from other hospitals. Their average gestational age was $38.5{\pm}1.6$ weeks. The average birth weight was $3134.8{\pm}539gm$. In the Rotazyme test, 75 samples turned out to be positive. Out of them, 55 samples(75.3%) were positive and 18 samples(24.7%) were negative in the RT-PCR. On the other hand, in the Rotazyme test, 50 samples turned out be negative. Out of them, 27 samples(54%) were positive and 23 samples(46%) were negative in the RT-PCR. Conclusion : Rotavirus infection in uncommon in neonates. The diagnosis based on visual findings using Rotazyme test has a disadvantage in the sense that it can result in false positive reactions and false negative reactions in the diagnosis of neonatal rotavirus infection.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.170-177
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• 2008

Purpose : To evaluate usefulness of MR imaging after serial brain US in the high-risk neonates before discharge of the neonatal intensive care unit. Materials and Methods : Retrospective comparison of 412 US and 121 MR scans in 121 neonates and young infants were performed. Grading of germinal matrix/intraventricular hemorrhage (GMH/IVH) was performed and presence of intracranial hemorrhage other than GMH/IVH and parencyma lesions was also analyzed. Results : Among the 242 lateral ventricles, Seven GMH and 46 IVH were additionally detected by MRI. On the other hand, 30 GMH were only detected by US. US demonstrated Grade 1/2/3/4 GMH/IVH in 24/8/13/0 ventricles each, while each grades were identified in 3, 49, 10, 2 ventricles on MR images. Other intracranial lesions additionally detected on MR images were cerebral hemorrhage (n=4), cerebellar hemorrhage (n=4), extraaxial hemorrhage (n=8), diffuse excessive signal change of the white matter (n=72), non-cavitary lesion (n=4), encephalomalacia (n=2), and ventriculomegaly (n=5). Conclusion : MR imaging could be an excellent complimentary study after serial brain US for additional detection of the intracranial pathology, particularly IVH and white matter lesions, though US would be better in follow-up of GMH in some neonates.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.513-517
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• 2013

We investigated the properties of impregnated activated carbons, a commercial adsorbent for the individual protection equipment, and examined CO adsorption and oxidation to $CO_2$. The surface area, pore volume and pore size were measured for four commercial samples using Brunauer-Emmett-Teller/Barrett-Joyner-Halenda (BET/BJH), and atomic compositions of the sample surface were analyzed based on SEM/EDS and XPS. Impregnated activated carbons containing Mn and Cu for fire showed the catalytic CO oxidation to $CO_2$ with a high catalytic activity (up to 99% $CO_2$ yield), followed by the CO adsorption at an initial reaction time. On the other hand, C: for chemical biologial and radiological (CBR) samples, not including Mn, showed a lower CO conversion to $CO_2$ (up to 60% yield) compared to that of fire samples. It was also found that a heat-treated activated carbon has a higher removal capacity both for CO and $CO_2$ at room temperature than that of untreated carbon, which was probably due to the impurity removal in pores resulted in a detection-delay about 30 min.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.17
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• pp.7619-7625
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• 2015

Background: Aberrant microRNA expression has been associated with the pathogenesis of a variety of human malignancies including oral squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). In this study, we examined primary oral SCCs for the expression of 6 candidate miRNAs, of which five (miR-34a, miR-143, miR-373, miR-380-5p, and miR-504) regulate the tumor suppressor TP53 and one (miR-99a) is involved in AKT/mTOR signaling. Materials and Methods: Tumor tissues (punch biopsies) were collected from 52 oral cancer patients and as a control, 8 independent adjacent normal tissue samples were also obtained. After RNA isolation, we assessed the mature miRNA levels of the 6 selected candidates against RNU44 and RNU48 as endogenous controls, using specific TaqMan miRNA assays. Results: miR-34a, miR-99a, miR-143 and miR-380-5p were significantly down-regulated in tumors compared to controls. Moreover, high levels of miR-34a were associated with alcohol consumption while those of miR-99a and miR-143 were associated with advanced tumor size. No significant difference was observed in the levels of miR-504 between the tumors and controls whereas miR-373 was below the detection level in all but two tumor samples. Conclusions: Low levels of miR-380-5p and miR-504 that directly target the 3'UTR of TP53 suggest that p53 may not be repressed by these two miRNAs in OSCC. On the other hand, low levels of miR-34a or miR-143 may relieve MDM4 and SIRT1 or MDM2 respectively, which will sequester p53 indicating an indirect mode of p53 suppression in oral tumors.

• Journal of Plant Biology
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.33-46
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• 1970

Pinus densiflora stands are common secondary forest communities on infertile soils in Korea. The stands are results of long severe past biotic pressure such as cutting, burning and grazing. These could be regarded as biotic climax in Korea. Because of their prevalent occurrence, relatively simple species and age composition, and their domestic economic importance, study of their distributional patterns may give some basic knowledge for better utilization of land resources in Korea. To detect distributional patterns and interspecific associations ten pine stands, each of which was homogenious with respect to topography and physiognomy, were subjectively selected from pine stands in Kyunggi Province near Seoul in 1969 and were made object of this study. Four contiguous systematic samples of count for trees, shrubs and seedlings from belt transects were collected from homogeneous areas within ten natural pine stands. The belt transect was 64m or 128m in length, and 1m, 2m or 4m in width. Basic units within the transect ranged from 64 to 256. The data from the contiguous transects were analysed in terms of multiple split-plot experiment. Departure from randomness of stem distribution, i.e., pattern, was tested in terms of variance mean ratio. For the detection of association between species, correlation coefficient was calculated for different block sizes. The values of ${\gamma}$ were tested by the usual t-test. Fine trees within one of the stands showed significant regular distribution through out the blocks. Within other eight stands pines were randomly distributed at basic unit with 4$\times$4m, 2$\times$2m, 2$\times$1m and 1$\times$1m. One significantly clumped distribution at basic unit 2$\times$2m, however, was observed from one of the pine stands. These randomly distributed groups were themselves significantly regularly distributed throughout the blocks for four pine stands. For the other four pine stands, in addition to the random distribution at the basie unit(the primary random group), randomly distributed groups with 32m dimension(the secondary random groups) were also observed. Both the primary and the secondary random groups were significantly regularly distributed at the rest of blocks. Pine seedlings were not distributed randomly thoughout the blocks. Within three of the ten stands they were contagiously distributed. Important shrub species underneath pines such as Querus serrata, Q. acutissima, Leapedeza intermedia, Rhododendron Yedoense var. poukhanenae, Juniperus utilis, Rhododendron mucronulatum var. ciliatum shnwed consistently similar distributional pattern with the pine at each stand. The shrub species pairs; Rhododendron Yedoense var. poukhanenae/Quercus serrata, Rhododendron mucronulatum var. ciliatum/Lespedeza intermedia were significantly negatively associated from 1m to 4m dimensional block sizes but became significantly positively associated from 8m sized blocks on. On the other hand the shrub species pairs; Lespedeza intermedia/Robinia Pseudoacacia, and Lespedeza bicolor var, japonica/Lespedeza intermedia were also significnalty negatively associated from 1m to 8m sized blocks but became significantly positively associated from 16m sized blocks on. The associational pattern between Rhododendron mucronul tun var. poukhanenae and Lespedeza intermedia was not consistent throughout the stands. In some stands negative associations were observed throughout the blocks except NS 32. From these observatons micro-edaphic variation within the pine stands seems not to be great enough to cause distributinal difference of pine trees within the ten pine stands. Among each species and pine seedings, however, the edaphic variation within the pine stands may be great enought to cause distributional variation.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.371-382
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• 2016

Saltwater intrusion in coastal regions can be detected by using numerous geochemical constituents in groundwater. However, insufficient numbers of groundwater data can often make us difficult to interpret saltwater intrusion. Probability statistics technique enables statistical prediction using a limited numbers of water quality data for a wider range and can make to effectively evaluate saltwater intrusion through a characterized distribution of probability. This study evaluated saltwater intrusion by applying probability statistics to the chemical constituents in groundwater, coastal discharge, and stream water in the coastal areas of Busan City. By the result of the study, it is proven that Na⁺, Mg²⁺, K⁺, SO₄²⁻, and Cl⁻, abundantly contained in seawater, are valuable indicators for evaluating saltwater intrusion. On the other hand, it is judged that Si⁴⁺, Fe²⁺, NO₃⁻, and PO₄³⁻, showing similar probability distribution in groundwater, coastal discharge, and stream water, are not appropriate indicators for the detection of saltwater intrusion.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
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• 2009.04b
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• pp.93-93
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• 2009

In order to overcome the lack of reactivity with hydrogen gas ($H_2$) and utilize unique properties of Carbon Nano Tubes (CNTs) for the application to hydrogen sensors, there have been intensive works on the surface functionalization of CNTs with various types of nanoparticles including Pd. In the present work, we have investigated the effect of dendrimers and Pd nanoparticles to the hydrogen sensing properties of CNTs by comparing three types of samples: Pd/SWNTs (Sample I), Pd/dendrimer/SWNTs (Sample II) and heat-treated Pd/dendrimers/SWNTs (Sample III). As a result of IV measurement under the $H_2$ and air, sample I was found to have a high sensitivity (25%) to $H_2$, but to have a very slow response time (324 s) and recovery rate. On the other hand, Sample II was found to show much faster response time (3 s) and good recovery rate but lower sensitivity (8.6%) than Sample I which is due to induced dipole moments in the dendrimers. Interestingly, Sample III showed both fast response time (7 s) and high sensitivity (25%), indicating that the pyrolysis of the dendrimers during heat treatment which reduce the distance between the surface of the SWNTs and the functionalized Pd nanoparticles plays a key role in improving the sensitivity. The pyrolysis of the dendrimers in Pd nanoparticle-dendrimer-SWNTs was found to enable a significant electrical conductance modulation upon exposure to extremely low concentrations (10 ppm) of $H_2$ in air. Our results demonstrate that the Pd Nanoparticle-Grafted Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes(SWNTs) with Dendrimers can be used to detect hydrogen, makingoutstanding properties such as fast response, and recovery time, high sensitivity, low detection limit at room temperature compared with other types of hydrogen sensors.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.152-158
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• 2012

Purpose : To compare the arterial and venous detection sites of triggering methods in contrast-enhanced-MR-venography (CE-MRV) for the evaluation of intracranial venous system. Materials and Methods: 41 healthy patients underwent CE-MRV with autotriggering at either the cavernous segment of internal carotid artery with an inserted time-delay of 6 seconds (n = 20) or the superior sagittal sinus without any timedelay (n = 21). 0.1 mmol/kg gadolinium-based contrast material ($Magnevist^{(R)}$, Schering, Germany) was intravenously injected by hand injection. A sagittal fast-spoiled-gradient-echo-sequence ranging from one ear to the other was performed (TR/TE5.2/1.5, Matrix $310{\times}310$, 124 sections in the 15-cm-thick volume). 17 predefined venous structures were evaluated on all venograms by two neuroradiologists and defined as completely visible, partially visible, or none visible. Results: The rate of completely visible structures were 272 out of 323 (84%) in the arterial triggering CE-MRV and 310 out of 340 (91%) in the venous triggering CE-MRV. The venous triggering CE-MRV demonstrated an overall superior visualization of the cerebral veins than the arterial triggering CE-MRV (Fisher exact test, p < 0.006). Conclusion: CE-MRV using venous autotriggering method provides higher-quality images of the intracranial venous structures compared to that of arterial.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.145-150
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• 2003

In the intestinal mucosa, mast cells are thought to be responsible for the expulsion of parasites. We investigated the relationship of worm expulsion and mast cells in C3H/HeN and BALB/c mice infected with Echinostoma hortense. In addition, we examined whether the worm recovery rate was associated with the strain of mice, and whether a toluidine stain and immunohistochemistry using the c-kit antibody was effective in the detection of mast cells. In order to investigate the mucosal immune response of C3H/HeN and BALB/c mice, each mouse was infected orally with 30 E. hortense metacercariae. Then, the number of mucosal mast cells and worm recovery rates was observed in experimentally infected mouse strains between 1 week and 8 weeks post infection (PI). Mucosal mast cells were increased in 3 weeks P.I. in C3H/HeN and BALB/c mice. On the other hand, only mucosal goblet cells and worm recovery rates correlated in C3H/HeN mice (P=0.0482). Worm recoveries in C3H/HeN mice were 65.7$\pm$5.6, 53.3$\pm$5.4 and 6.7$\pm$0.6 in week 1, 2, and 3 P.I. and strongly decreased in week 3 P.I. Worm recoveries in BALB/c mice were 23.0$\pm$2.5, 10.0$\pm$1.0, and 6.7$\pm$0.6% in week 1, 2, and 3 P.I. and gradually decreased from week 1 P.I. to week 3 P.I. Worm recoveries in C3H/HeN mice were significantly higher than in BALB/c mice (P<0.00l). The number of mast cells in C3H/HeN and BALB/c mice using the anti-c-kit antibody reached to a peak in week 3 P.I. and recovered as normal level in week 5 P.I. and 6 P.I. The number in E. hortense-infected C3H/HeN mice (P=0.0015) was higher than in E. hortense-infected BALB/c mice (P=0.01) compared with the control group. There were significant differences in the number of mast cells among regions of the intestine in in C3H/HeN mice (P<0.05) but not in BALB/c mice (P>0.05). Immunohistochemistry using the anti-c-kit antibody was significant method as an examination of the number of mast cells (P=0.0002). In conclusion, the present study demonstrated that mast cells play an important role in worm recovery, and immunohistochemistry using the anti-c-kit antibody was superior to toluidine stain as an examination of mast cells.

• Korean Journal of Cognitive Science
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.65-90
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• 2017

Rewards or penalties become informative only when contingent on an immediately preceding response. Our goal was to determine if the brain responds differently to motivational events depending on whether they provide feedback with the contingencies effective for learning. Event-related fMRI data were obtained from 22 volunteers performing a visuomotor categorical task. In learning-condition trials, participants learned by trial and error to make left or right responses to letter cues (16 consonants). Monetary rewards (+500) or penalties (-500) were given as feedback (learning feedback). In random-condition trials, cues (4 vowels) appeared right or left of the display center, and participants were instructed to respond with the appropriate hand. However, rewards or penalties (random feedback) were given randomly (50/50%) regardless of the correctness of response. Feedback-associated BOLD responses were analyzed with ANOVA [trial type (learning vs. random) x feedback type (reward vs. penalty)] using SPM8 (voxel-wise FWE p < .001). The right caudate nucleus and right cerebellum showed activation, whereas the left parahippocampus and other regions as the default mode network showed deactivation, both greater for learning trials than random trials. Activations associated with reward feedback did not differ between the two trial types for any brain region. For penalty, both learning-penalty and random-penalty enhanced activity in the left insular cortex, but not the right. The left insula, however, as well as the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and dorsomedial prefrontal cortex/dorsal anterior cingulate cortex, showed much greater responses for learning-penalty than for random-penalty. These findings suggest that learning-penalty plays a critical role in learning, unlike rewards or random-penalty, probably not only due to its evoking of aversive emotional responses, but also because of error-detection processing, either of which might lead to changes in planning or strategy.