• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.66 no.4
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• pp.274-279
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• 2009

Background: Uteroglobin (UG) is a secretary protein that has strong immunomodulatory properties, and which is synthesized in most epithelia including lung tissue. Overexpression of UG is associated with decreased expression of cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 and suppression of cancer cell growth. Indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) catalyzes tryptophan along the kynurenine pathway, and both the reduction in local tryptophan and the production of tryptophan metabolites contribute to the immunosuppressive effects of IDO. Methods: In this study, we investigated the pattern of expression of COX-2 and IDO, and the effect of UG transduction in the expression of COX-2 and IDO in several non-small cell lung cancer cell lines, especially A549. Results: Both COX-2 and IDO were constitutionally expressed in A549 and H460 cells, and was reduced by UG transduction. In A549 cells, the slightly increased expression of COX-2 and IDO with the instillation of interferon-gamma (IFN-$\gamma$) was reduced by UG transduction. However, the reduced expression of COX-2 and IDO by UG transduction was not increased with IFN-$\gamma$ instillation in A549 cells. In both the A549 COX-2 sense and the A549 COX-2 anti-sense small interfering RNA (siRNA)-transfected cells, IDO was expressed; expression was reduced by UG transduction, irrespective of the expression of COX-2. Conclusion: The results suggest that the anti-proliferative function of UG may be associated with the immune tolerance pathway of IDO, which is independent of the COX-2 pathway.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.131-144
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• 2012

Objectives: This study was performed to identify the associations of empowerment and social capital (such as social participation and trust) with self-rated health in Korean communities with poor health. Methods: This study used the data from community health interviews conducted at 29 administrative sections (dong, eup, or myeon) with high mortality from August to October in both 2010 and 2011 as part of the Health Plus Happiness Plus Projects in Gyeongsangnam-do Province. The study subjects comprised 6,383 individuals composed of approximately 220 adults randomly sampled from each administrative section. The empowerment was measured with five-point Likert scale responses to seven perceived control questions (two at the individual level, five at the community level). The social participation was measured with 'participation in formal and/or informal group' and trust using responses to three questions about trust of others. Results: The high empowerment scores at both individual and community levels, social participation in informal groups, and high trust level had independent and significant associations with good self-rated health after adjusting for socio-demographic factors (sex, age, marital status, occupation, and food affordability) and health behaviors (smoking, alcohol drinking, and exercise) in the logistic regressions. There were weak but significant associations among empowerment, social participation, and trust levels. Conclusions: Empowerment, social participation, and trust were weakly inter-related and significantly associated with self-rated health. More studies are warranted for empowerment and other social capital indices in health promotion.

• Journal of the Institute of Electronics Engineers of Korea TC
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• v.46 no.12
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• pp.108-116
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• 2009

In this paper, we propose a Ethernet based audio distribution system with a new L1/L2 hybrid switching scheme, and evaluate its performance. The proposed scheme not only offers guaranteed low latency and jitter characteristics that are essentially required for the distribution of high-quality uncompressed audio traffic, and but also provide an efficient transmission of data traffic on the Ethernet environment. The audio distribution system with a proposed scheme consists of a master node and a number of relay nodes, and all nodes are mutually connected as a daisy-chain topology through up and downlinks. The master node generates an audio frame for each cycle of 125us, and the audio frame has 24 time slotted audio channels for carrying stereo 24 channels of 16-bit PCM sampled audio. On receiving the audio frame from its upstream node via the downlink, each intermediate node inserts its audio traffic to the reserved time slot for itself, then relays again to next node through its physical layer(L1) transmission - repeating. After reaching the end node, the audio frame is loopbacked through the uplink. On repeating through the uplink, each node makes a copy of audio slot that node has to receive, then play the audio. When the audio transmission is completed, each node works as a normal L2 switch, thus data frames are switched during the remaining period. For supporting this L1/L2 hybrid switching capability, we insert a glue logic for parsing and multiplexing audio and data frames at MII(Media Independent Interlace) between the physical and data link layers. The proposed scheme can provide a good delay performance and transmission efficiency than legacy Ethernet based audio distribution systems. For verifying the feasibility of the proposed L1/L2 hybrid switching scheme, we use OMNeT++ as a simulation tool with various parameters. From the simulation results, one can find that the proposed scheme can provides outstanding characteristics in terms of both jitter characteristic for audio traffic and transmission efficiency of data traffics.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.360-375
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• 2012

The purpose of this study was to compare 10th grade students' understanding of concepts about the plates' motions depending on the different spatial ability. Based on previous studies and literature reviews, two instruments were selected and used in this study. The Spatial Perception Test developed in Korean Testing Center was applied to measure students' spatial ability. Another instrument for testing students' understandings of plates' motions consists of a total of 10 items. The instruments were distributed to 118 students who were 10th graders in metropolitan city. The results are as follows: First, a correlation coefficient between conceptual understanding of plates' motions and spatial ability was r=0.439 (p<.01). It indicates that conceptual plates' motions and spatial ability have a moderate relationship. The students were divided into two groups (high and low) by spatial ability. The independent t-test was performed and reveals that the statistically significant difference between high and low groups. On the other hand, the 6 students (3 higher spatial ability students and 3 lowers) were selected and interviewed individually to find the differences in their understanding of the concept of plates' motions. The findings from interviews indicate that most students recognized about concepts of trench and ocean ridge, a rise and drop of the mantle, and divergent and convergent boundaries. However, students had misconceptions about section of trench and ocean ridge. In addition, the students who had higher spatial ability knew the more proper concepts about the creation and extinction of plate, crustal movements, and bottom of the ocean extension, whereas the students who had the lower spatial ability had misconceptions.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.106 no.2
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• pp.249-257
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• 2017

This study was conducted to analyze the relationship between tree-ring growth of Pinus densiflora and climate factors based on national forest inventory(NFI) data. Annual tree-ring growth data of P. densiflora collected by the $5^{th}$ NFI were first organized to analyze yearly growth patterns of the species. Yearly growing degree days and standard precipitation index based on daily mean temperature and precipitation data from 1951 to 2010 were calculated. Using the information, yearly temperature effect index(TEI) and precipitation effect index(PEI) were estimated to analyze the effect of climate conditions on the tree-ring growth of the species. A tree-ring growth estimation equation appropriate for P. densiflora was then developed by using the TEI and PEI as independent variables. The tree-ring growth estimation equation was finally applied to the climate change scenarios of RCP 4.5 and RCP 8.5 for predicting the changes in tree-ring growth of P. densiflora from 2011 to 2100. The results indicate that tree-ring growth of P. densiflora is predicted to be decreased over time when the tree-ring growth estimation equation is applied to the climate change scenarios of RCP 4.5 and RCP 8.5. It is predicted that the decrease of tree-ring growth over time is relatively small when RCP 4.5 is applied. On the other hand, the steep decrease of tree-ring growth was found in the application of RCP 8.5, especially after the year of 2050. The results of this study are expected to provide valuable information necessary for estimating local growth characteristics of P. densiflora and for predicting changes in tree-ring growth patterns caused by climates change.

• Journal of Mushroom
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.22-30
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• 2018

This study was performed to determine optimal extraction conditions of fermented Polygonum multiflorum root by Lentinula edodes (JMI10079) Pegler mycelials using response surface methodology. The independent factors were extraction temperature (X1: $40-100^{\circ}C$), extraction time (X2: 2-10 hrs.), and the ratio of water to sample (X3: 33-100 mg/mL). Their effects were assessed on dependent variables of the extract properties, which included soluble solid contents (Y1), $^{\circ}Brix$ of sample extract (Y2), total polyphenol content (Y3), total flavonoid content (Y4), 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) radical cation scavenging activity (Y5) and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging activity (Y6). The experimental data obtained were fit to a second-order polynomial equation. The optimal extraction conditions for fermented P. multiflorum root were: X1: $91.22^{\circ}C$, X2: 7.72 hrs, and X3: 39.71 mg/mL.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.75-81
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• 2000

Background: Systemic embolism, especially, cerebral infarction is one of the most important complications in patients with mitral stenosis. The authors analyzed the some factors that could predict the development of cerebral infarction in cases of mitral stenosis and propose preventive therapeutic measures. Methods: Retrospective study of 127 patients with rheumatic mitral stenosis was performed by analyzing their medical records for transthoracic(TTE) or transesophageal echocardiography(TEE) over a 12 months period. The patients were divided into two groups according to the presence (Group I: n=26, age: $55.0{\pm}13$ years) or absence (Group II: n=101, age: $48.5{\pm}13$ years) of cerebral infarction. No significant difference was observed between the two groups with respect to sex and functional class. Results: Patients in group I were older ($55.0{\pm}13$ vs $48.5{\pm}13$;p<0.05). had more dilated left atrial size($5.10{\pm}0.48$ vs $4.81{\pm}0.70$;p<0.05) and smaller mitral surface area($1.01{\pm}0.39$ vs $1.21{\pm}0.45$;p<0.05). In Group 1. the incidence of atrial fibrillation(22 out of 26 vs 57 out of 101;p<0.05) and spontaneous left intra-atrial contrast phenomenon(22 out of 26 vs 44 out of 101;p<0.05) was more frequently observed. On multivariate analysis. atrial fibrillation and anticoagulant therapy were the independent predictive factors. Conclusion: Age, left atrial dilatation, the severity of mitral stenosis, the presence of spontaneous contrast, and especially the presence of atrial fibrillation are the main predictive factors of the development of cerebral infarction in mitral stenosis. Patients presenting one or several of these factors may benefit from prophylactic anticoagulant treatment.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
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• v.42 no.5
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• pp.13-21
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• 2014

This study generated regression models to quantify storage and annual uptake of carbon from five native landscape tree species through a direct harvesting method, and established essential information to estimate carbon reduction effects from urban greenspaces. Tree species for the study included the Chionanthus retusus, Prunus armeniaca, Abies holophylla, Cornus officinalis, and Taxus cuspidata, which are usually planted in cities of middle Korea, but for which no information on carbon reduction is available. Ten tree individuals for each species were sampled reflecting various stem diameter sizes at a given interval. The study measured biomass for each part including the roots of sample trees to compute total carbon storage per tree. The annual carbon uptake per tree was quantified by analyzing the radial growth rates of stem samples at breast height or ground level. Regression models were developed using diameter at breast height (dbh) or ground level (dg) as an independent variable to easily estimate storage and annual uptake of carbon per tree for each species. All the regression models showed high fitness with $r^2$ values of 0.92~0.99. Storage and annual uptake of carbon from a tree with dbh of 10 cm were greatest with C. retusus (20.0 kg and 5.9 kg/yr, respectively), followed by P. armeniaca (17.5 kg and 4.5 kg/yr) and A. holophylla (13.2kg and 1.8 kg/yr) in order. A C. officinalis tree and T. cuspidata tree with dg of 10 cm stored 9.3 and 6.3 kg of carbon and annually sequestered 3.2 and 0.6 kg, respectively. The above-mentioned carbon storage equaled the amount of carbon emitted from gasoline consumption of about 23~35 L for C. retusus, P. armeniaca, and A. holophylla, and 11~16 L for C. officinalis and T. cuspidata. A tree with the diameter size of 10 cm annually offset carbon emissions from gasoline use of about 6~10 L for C. retusus, P. armeniaca, and C. officinalis, and 1~3 L for A. holophylla and T. cuspidata. The study breaks new ground to easily quantify biomass and carbon reduction for the tree species by overcoming difficulties in direct cutting and root digging of urban landscape trees.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.45 no.11
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• pp.1403-1410
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• 2002

Purpose : In previous studies, various risk factors for recurrent febrile seizures have been identified. But none of these risk factors alone could sufficiently discriminate children at high or low risk for recurrent seizures. Therefore, we tried to identify patients at high risk of recurrent febrile seizures by combining risk factors. Methods : Two hundred and four children who had been admitted to our hospital from March, 1997 to July, 1999 with their first febrile seizures were enrolled in our study, and followed up over 2 years. We investigated the recurrence rate according to variables such as sex, age at first febrile seizure, family history of febrile seizures or epilepsy, type of the first seizure, neurologic abnormality and EEG abnormality. Results : Family history of febrile seizures and age at first febrile seizure(<12 months) were significant independent risk factors for recurrent febrile seizures. With these two combined factors, four groups were allocated and the recurrence rate by each group was designated as follows: group with no family history of febrile seizures and age at first febrile seizure ${\geq}12$ months (no risk factor), 43.8%; the group with no family history and age <12 months(one risk factor), 61.7%; group with family history and age ${\geq}12$ months(one risk factor), 64.5%; group with family history and age <12 months(two risk factors), 90.4%. Conclusion : A correlation between numbers of risk factors and recurrence rate was present and the children with a family history of febrile seizures and a young age at onset(<12 months) were regarded as a high risk group of recurrence.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.101-110
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• 2019

Objectives : It is not clear which clinical variables are most closely associated with delirium in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). By comparing clinical data of ICU delirium and non-delirium patients, we sought to identify variables that most effectively differentiate delirium from non-delirium. Methods : Medical records of 6,386 ICU patients were reviewed. Random Subset Feature Selection and Principal Component Analysis were utilized to select a set of clinical variables with the highest discriminatory capacity. Statistical analyses were employed to determine the separation capacity of two models-one using just the selected few clinical variables and the other using all clinical variables associated with delirium. Results : There was a significant difference between delirium and non-delirium individuals across 32 clinical variables. Richmond Agitation Sedation Scale (RASS), urinary catheterization, vascular catheterization, Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A), Blood urea nitrogen, and Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Examination II most effectively differentiated delirium from non-delirium. Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that, with the exception of vascular catheterization, these clinical variables were independent risk factors associated with delirium. Separation capacity of the logistic regression model using just 6 clinical variables was measured with Receiver Operating Characteristic curve, with Area Under the Curve (AUC) of 0.818. Same analyses were performed using all 32 clinical variables;the AUC was 0.881, denoting a very high separation capacity. Conclusions : The six aforementioned variables most effectively separate delirium from non-delirium. This highlights the importance of close monitoring of patients who received invasive medical procedures and were rated with very low RASS and HAM-A scores.