• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.71-80
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• 2012

In order to verify exact dose distributions in the state-of-the-art radiation techniques, a newly designed three-dimensional dosimeter and technique has been took strongly into consideration. The main purpose of our study is to verify the optimized parameters of polymer gel as a real volumetric dosimeter in terms of the various study of MRI. We prepared a gel dosimeter by combing 8% of gelatin, 8% of MAA, and 10 mM of THPC. We used a Co-60 gamma-ray teletherapy unit and delivered doses of 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, and 14 Gy to each polymer gel with a solid phantom. We used a fast spin-echo pulse to acquire the characterized T2 time of MRI. The signal noise ratio (SNR) of the head & neck coil was a relatively lower sensitivity than the body coil; therefore the dose uncertainty of head & neck coil would be lower than body coil's. But the dose uncertainty and resolution of the head & neck coil were superior to the body coil in this study. The TR time between 1,500 ms and 2,000 ms showed no significant difference in the dose resolution, but TR of 1,500 ms showed less dose uncertainty. For the slice thickness of 2.5 mm, less dose uncertainty of TE times was at 4 Gy, as well, it was the lowest result over 4 Gy at TE of 12 ms. The dose uncertainty was not critical up to 6 Gy, but the best dose resolution was obtained at 20 ms up to 8 Gy. The dose resolution shows the lowest value was over 20 ms and was an excellent result in the number of excitation (NEX) of three. The NEX of two was the highest dose resolution. We concluded that the better result of slice thickness versus NEX was related to the NEX increment and thin slice thickness.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.104-112
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• 1998

Purpose : To evaluate the clinical utility of diffusion-weighted imaging by analyzing the signal intersity of lesions in patients with various intracranial diseases. Materials and Methods : difusion-weighted MR imaging was prospectively perormed in randomly selected 70 patients with various intracranial idseases. They consisted of 20 patients with acute infarct, 21 patients with chronic infarct of small vessel disease, 14 patients with primary intracranial tumor, three patients with brain metastasis, five patient with brain abscess, five patients with brain abscess, five patients with cerebral hemorrhage, one patient with neurocysticercosis, and one patient with epidermoid cyst. the diffusion-weighted images were obtained immediately after routine T2-weighted imaging on a 1.5T MR unit using single shot spin echo EPI technique with 6500 ms TR, 107ms TE, $128{\times}128$ matrix, 1 number of excitation, $24{\times}24$ field of view, 5-7 mm slice thickness, 2-3 mm inter-slice gap. The diffusion-gradients (b value of ($1000s{\;}/{\;}textrm{mm}^2$)) were applied along three directions(x, y, z). On visual inspection of diffusion-weighted images, the signal intersity of lesions was arbitrarily graded as one of 5 grades. In quantitative assessment, we measured the signal intensity of all the lesions and the contralateral corresponding normal area using round region of interest(ROI), and then calculated the signal intensity ratio of the lesion to the normal brain parenchyma. Results : On visual inspection, markedly hyperintense signals were seen in all cases of acute infarct, brain abscess, epidermoid cyst, and neurocysticercosis in degenerating stage. In all cases of cerebral hematoma, the very high signal internsity was intermingled with low signal intensity. focal very high signal intersity was also seen in a solid portion of the tumor in a patient. the mean signal intensity ratios of all those lesions to the normal brain parenchyma were above 2.5. Gliosis, solid component of brain tumor, brain metastasis, and vasogenic dedma appeared isointense to the normal brain parenchyma in 71%, 64%, 100%, and 67%, respectively ; the mean signal intensity ratios of those lesions to the normal brain parenchyma ranged 1.15 to 1.28 and there was no significant difference among these(p>0.1). Cystic cerebromalacia and necrotic or cystic portions in tumor were markedly or slightly hypointense, and the mean signal intensity ratios were 0.45 and 0.42, respectively. Conclusion : Very high signal intensity of acute infarct, brain abscess, epidermoid cyst, and cystic neurocysticercosis in degenerating stage on diffusion-weighted images may be helpful in differentiating from other diseases that are hypointense or isointense to the normal brain parenchyma. It may be especially useful differentiation of brain abscess from brain tumor with necrotic or cystic portion.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.89-96
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• 1999

Some of the information concerning sexual function in the male diabetes has been focused upon the problems of endocrine or semen parameters. However, the characteristics of acrosome reaction and spermatozoa concentration at the epididymis and vas deferens have scarcely been studied, and the causes of the infertility has not been critically identified. So, we designed to inspect the spermatozoa concentration and the characteristics of acrosome reaction at epididymis and vas deferens of diabetic Wistar rat induced by streptozotocin (STZ, 70 mg/kg, ip). Experimental animal was sacrificed at 3 days and 14 days after the STZ injection. In the diabetes-induced rat, the levels of insulin and glucose had a pattern of inverse proportion. The spermatozoa concentrations in caput and corpus epididymis were significantly decreased in all diabetic condition. In cauda epididymis, however, there was significant decrease in sperm concentration at 14 days onward. In diabetic rat, the spontaneous reaction rate of spermatozoa of cauda and vas deferens were significantly higher than the control group. The ARIC (acrosome reaction to ionophore challenge) value of caudal sperm was 28.7 at control, 22.1 at 3 days, and 8.3 at 14 days. In the present study the spermatozoa concentration was decreased and the spontaneous reaction rate was increased by diabetes. In ARIC-test, it is revealed that the fertility of spermatozoa of 14 days group was lower than control or 3 days group. Diabetes mellitus may be provoke the decreased fertilization rate and subsequent infertility and subsequent infertility.

• Proceedings of the KOR-BRONCHOESO Conference
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• 1977.06a
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• pp.4.4-5
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• 1977

The vibratory energy introduced into the external ear canal is changed by the mechanical factors of eardrum itself, the motility of ossicles, and the air cushion of tympanic cavity and the like. This study was designed to investigate the volume of middle ear cavity and mastoid air cell system as a factor of determining the accoustic impedance of middle ear system. The author studied how the increase in air volume of middle ear cavity effects on the acoustic impedance of middle ear system with dogs' ears and researched the correlation between the degree of pneumatization of temporal bones and the acoustic impedance of middle ear system by comparing the radiological findings of pneumatization (Law's and Towne's projection) with the acoustic impedance measurements with Madsen ZO 70. The result is as follows: 1 The tympanometric findings in control state revealed the curves of type A, and did not change in its configuration by the increase in the air volume of dogs middle ear system. 2. The static compliance of middle ear revealed a distinct and linear increase in proportion to the increase in air volume of middle ear system; the rate of increase was $0.05{\pm}0.02$ cc of static compliance per cc of air volume. 3. Authenticated in the above result and the tendency to increase in static compliance in proportion to the increase in the degree of pneumatization of temporal bones, there was significant regression equation between the degree of pneumatization of temporal bones (x variable) and the static compliance of middle ear system; $y=0.19x{\pm}0.16{\pm}0.05$ It is suggested that the difference in volume of middle ear system plays an important role in the change of the static compliance of middle ear, and the author concludes that the measurement of static compliance of middle ear has clinical value as diagnostic means of evaluating the degree of pneumatization of temporal bones along with some radiological examination.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.467-474
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• 2011

As a serial study to investigate optimum storing temperature of fresh ginseng (Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer), the respiration rate and internal quality of the ginseng was compared during storage for 16 weeks at $-3^{\circ}C$, $-1.5^{\circ}C$ and $0^{\circ}C$. At initial storage period, respiration rate of fresh ginseng was lower at lower temperature, but thereafter it was negligible. Changes in the firmness of fresh ginseng were not significantly different by the storage temperature. The soluble solids content in fresh ginseng was rapidly increased in the early part of storage, and fresh ginseng stored at a lower temperature had a lower content of soluble solids. The iodine-stained color for starch of the main root was rapidly changed for 4 weeks, and L value of the color was the highest in the center, followed by the cambium and the cortex. pH were a little change depending upon the storage temperature, and as a whole, pH was the lowest at $-3^{\circ}C$, followed by $-1.5^{\circ}C$ and $0^{\circ}C$. Although the content of crude saponin tended to somewhat increased as the storage period passed, the effect of storage temperature on changes in the content was not clear. In the sensory evaluation of 'unique flavor' of fresh ginseng using 5 point scale, higher than 3 point was marked for 8 weeks at $-3^{\circ}C$, 14 weeks at $-1.5^{\circ}C$ and 16 weeks at $-0^{\circ}C$ during storage (p < 0.05).

• Korean journal of applied entomology
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• v.51 no.4
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• pp.421-429
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• 2012

The developmental time period of Aphis gossypii was studied in laboratory (six constant temperatures from 15 to $30^{\circ}C$ with 50~60% RH, and a photoperiod of 14L:10D) and in a cucumber plastic house. The mortality of A. gossypii in the laboratory was high in the 2nd (20.0%) and 3rd stage(13.3%) at low temperature but high in the 3rd (26.7%) and 4th stage (33.3%) at high temperatures. Mortality in the plastic house was high in the 1st and 2nd stage but there was no mortality in the 4th stage at low temperature. The total developmental period was longest at $15^{\circ}C$ (12.2 days) in the laboratory and shortest at $28.5^{\circ}C$ (4.09 days) in the plastic house. The lower threshold temperature at the total nymphal stage was $6.8^{\circ}C$ in laboratory. The thermal constant required to reach the total nymphal stage was 111.1DD. The relationship between the developmental rate and temperature fit the nonlinear model of Logan-6 which has the lowest value for the Akaike information criterion(AIC) and Bayesian information criterion(BIC). The distribution of completion of each development stage was well described by the 3-parameter Weibull function ($r^2=0.89{\sim}0.96$). This model accurately described the predicted and observed outcomes. Thus it is considered that the model can be used for predicting the optimal spray time for Aphis gossypii.

• The Journal of Information Systems
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.1-23
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• 2016

Purpose Self-congruity deals with the effect of symbolic value-expressive attributes on consumer decision and behavior, which is the theoretical foundation of the "non-utilitarian destination positioning". Functional congruity refers to utilitarian evaluation of a product or service by consumers. In addition, recent years, social network services, especially mobile social network services have created many opportunities for e-WOM communication that enables consumers to share personal consumption related information anywhere at any time. Moreover, self-construal is a hot and popular topic that has been discussed in the field of modem psychology as well as in marketing area. This study aims to examine the moderating effect of self-construal on the relationship between self-congruity, functional congruity and tourists' positive electronic word of mouth (e-WOM). Design/methodology/approach In order to verify the hypotheses, we developed a questionnaire with 32 survey items. We measured all the items on a five-point Likert-type scale. We used Sojump.com to collect questionnaire and gathered 218 responses from whom have visited Korea before. After a pilot test, we analyzed the main survey data by using SPSS 20.0 and AMOS 18.0, and employed structural equation modeling to test the hypotheses. We first estimated the measurement model for its overall fit, reliability and validity through a confirmatory factor analysis and used common method bias test to make sure that whether measures are affected by common-method variance. Then we tested the hypotheses through the structural model and used regression analysis to measure moderating effect of self-construal. Findings The results reveal that the effect of self-congruity on tourists' positive e-WOM is stronger for tourists with an independent self-construal compared with those with interdependent self-construal. Moreover, it shows that the effect of functional congruity on tourists' positive e-WOM becomes salient when tourists' self-construal is primed to be interdependent rather than independent. We expect that the results of this study can provide important implications for academic and practical perspective.

• Korean Business Review
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• v.13
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• pp.49-66
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• 2000

Despite the fact that understanding customers satisfaction with transportation services is a subject of great importance, authors, so far, found no systematic researches referred to that issue. From this point, studying the satisfaction with subways services can be extremely useful. Empirical study of key factors in the satisfaction with subway services is the departure point, which holds as objectives, and we believe, will contribute to overall increasing in the number of subways services used and in the amount of public benefits derived from that usage. In order to achieve these goals: First, several items referred to some key factors in the satisfaction of subway usage were systemized. Second, a research of specific weights attached to those key factors by subway passengers was conducted. Knowledge of the satisfaction variables system can provide deep insights into ones perceptual experience when using a subway. The results were as follows: Various interrelated factors compose a passengers satisfaction with subway services. People do not just use subway passively; a number of key factors, like physical and personal services, exact timing, easiness to access etc. determine the passengers satisfaction with subway. In order to find out specific weights of these key factors multiple regression analysis was employed. Results showed that satisfaction with subway is determined by (in order of importance) easiness to access, quality of physical services, friendliness of working stuff and timing exactness. According to the findings, passengers do not use subway as a simple mean of transportation, rather they perceive it as a complex combination of environmental elements and overall satisfaction depends on these various factors. Therefore, to learn passengers satisfaction with subways services, passengers subway experience must be thoroughly studied and analyzed, and this is where papers value resides.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.265-274
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• 2006

Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) internal derangement, especially disc displacement with reduction (DDwR) is the most common TMJ arthropathy and has been thought to do some effects on masticatory performance. Measuring of maximal bite force has been widely used as objective and quantitative method of evaluating masticatory performance, but previous studies showed various results due to various characteristics of subjects and different measuring devices and techniques. In a few studies about the correlation of bite force and temporomandibular disorders (TMD), some authors reported that bite force and masticatory performance would be reduced in patients with TMD because of pain. But the correlation of changes in structure of articular disc and masticatory performance has not been well investigated yet. In this study, to investigate the influences of non-painful disc change on the masticatory performance, we measured the value of maximal bite force, occlusal contact area and occlusal pressure of 39 patients with non-painful DDwR of the TMJ using pressure sensitive film, and compared it with that of 59 controls. The results are summarized as follows: 1. The maximal bite force (P<0.01) and the occlusal contact area (P < 0.05) of the DDwR patients were greater than the controls. 2. There was no significant difference in occlusal pressure between the DDwR patients and the controls (P > 0.05). 3. The maximal bite force of the male group was greater than that of the female group (P < 0.05). However, the occlusal contact area and the occlusal pressure between the male and the female group didn't show significant difference (P > 0.05). From the results above, we can suggest that DDwR could be a factor of changing bite force, but more controlled, large scaled and EMG related further study is needed.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.183-188
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• 2012

Previous studies of the relationship of TMJ signs and symptoms in elderly people have provided inconsistent findings. The objective of this study was to retrospectively analyze the prevalence of signs and symptoms of temporomandibular disorders(TMD). Additionally, young subjects were examined as a control group. Forty old patients (28 female, 12 male, mean age: $65.2{\pm}2.5$ years) and forty young patients (30 female, 10 male, mean age: $23.3{\pm}2.6$ years) clinically diagnosed with TMD were screened. Patient records were analyzed regarding: pain on chief complain, amount of range of mouth opening, TMJ noises(clicking sounds, crepitus), pain on palpation of the TMJ and masticatory muscles and neck and upper back muscles. Differences between the groups were assessed using t-test and the chi-squared test. (SPSS v.17) P value <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Geriatric subjects more often exhibited crepitus on mouth opening (25%), muscular palpation pain of masseter muscles (82.5%) and temporal muscles(60%). In contrast, young subjects more frequently exhibited joint sounds (62.5%), more amount of range of passive mouth opening (p=0.043). It was found that the younger subjects (82.5%) and the older subjects (87.5%) suffered from subjective sign (orofacial pain on chief complain). There were not statistically significant relationships between orofacial pain (VAS) and the groups. Differences between the groups with respect to joint sounds, muscular palpation pain and mandibular range of motion were significant. Although older subjects more frequently exhibited objective signs (crepitus on opening, pain on muscular palpation) of TMD, younger subjects more frequently objective signs (clicking sound on mouth opening, amount of mandibular range of motion).