• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.519-526
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• 1996

Background : Clinical and Radiographic studies to differentiate benign from malignant pulmonary nodules have previously focused on clinical status and the morphologic and the computed tomographic attenuation characteristics of the lung nodules. Distinctive differences in the vascularity and pathophysiology of malignant versus benign pulmonary nodules were identified. We evaluated the diagnostic method for differentiating malignant from benign solitary pulmonary nodule by contrast enhancement on the spiral CT. Method : Sixteen patients with solitary pulmonary nodule were examined(Tuberculoma 8, primary lung cancer 8). Serial thin section on the spiral CT was performed before and after(45second, 2min, 5min) the onset of the injection of 100mL of nonionic contrast material(2mL/sec). Results : There was no difference in size of nodule and pre-contrast CT number (Hounsfield unit) between benign and malignant nodules. At forty-five second after the onset of the injection, malignant neoplasms($19.6{\pm}7.9$ HU) enhanced significantly more than tuberculomas($4.9{\pm}9.4$ HU, p=0.008). At 2minute and 5 minute after, malignant neoplasms($34.0{\pm}19.2$HU, $34.0{\pm}15.4$HU) enhanced significantly more than tuberculomas ($6.7{\pm}9.7$HU, p=0.007 and $7.7{\pm}11.5$HU, p=0.011). On cut-off value 20HU(contrast enhancement) 2minute after the injection of contrast media, sensitivity was 87% and specificity was 87%. No correlation between the contrast enhancement and size of the nodules was observed. Conclusion : Studies with the use of an intravenously administered noniodinated contrast medium in examining the enhancement properties of lung nodules was performed. The contrast enhancement was useful in differential diagnosis of solitary pulmonary nodules.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.67 no.6
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• pp.506-511
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• 2009

Background: The smoking prevalence in asthma patients are similar to those in the general population. Asthma and active cigarette smoking can interact to create more severe symptoms, an accelerated decline in lung function and impaired therapeutic responses. Accordingly, asthmatics with a history of smoking were examined to define the clinical characteristics and lung function of smoking asthmatics. Methods: The medical records of 142 asthmatics with a known smoking history were reviewed. The patients were divided into three groups according to their smoking history - current smokers, former smokers and non-smokers. The clinical characteristics, lung function, and annual declines of the forced expiratory volume in one second ($FEV_1$) were compared. Results: Fifty-three of the 142 patients (37%) were current smokers, 24 were former smokers (17%) and 65 were non-smokers (45%). The patients with a hospital admission history during the previous year included 16 current smokers (30%), 4 former smokers (17%) and 7 non-smokers (11%) (p=0.02). The mean $FEV_1$ (% predicted) was 76.8${\pm}$19.8%, 71.6${\pm}$21.1% and 87.9${\pm}$18.7% for current smokers, former smokers and non-smokers, respectively (p< 0.001). The $FEV_1$/forced vital capacity (FVC) (ratio, %) values were 63.6${\pm}$12.6%, 59.3${\pm}$14.9% and 72.1${\pm}$11.8% in current smokers, former smokers and non-smokers, respectively (p<0.001). The corresponding mean values for the individual $FEV_1$ slopes were not significant (p=0.33). Conclusion: Asthmatic smokers demonstrated higher hospital admission rates and lower lung function. These findings suggest that the smoking history is an important predictor of a poor clinical outcome in asthma patients.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.106 no.4
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• pp.397-407
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• 2017

This research aims to analyze and compare the drought resistance of 7 species of landscape trees commonly grown in Korea. The 7 species are: Camellia japonica, Rhaphiolepis indica, Quercus glauca, Machilus thunbergii, Daphniphyllum macropodum, Dendropanax morbifera and Cinnamomum camphora. In order to analyze their drought resistance, the samples were left without irrigation for 30 days (05/09/2016 ~ 05/10/2016), during which period their respective drought resistor, relative water content, electrolyte elution figures and proline content were measured. As the non-irrigation proceeded, C. camphora was the first to wither, followed by D. morbifera, then D. macropodum, then M. thunbergii, then Q. glauca, then R. indica then finally C. japonica. Of the 7 species, Q. glauca, C. japonica and R. indica can be considered highly drought resistant, since they survived for longer than 3 weeks without irrigation. Relative water content (RWC) plummeted dramatically after the first 15 days of non-irrigation. Whereas RWC readings of C. camphora, D. morbifera, D. macropodum and M. tunbergii dropped by 40% or more, the other 4 species reported a relatively low rate of decrease at 20% or lower. The Camellia japonica, the R. indica and Q. glauca, which were the species with relatively high drought resistance, showed low proline content and electrolyte elution figures, whereas those of C. camphora, D. macropodum, D. morbifera and M. tunbergii were higher. Analysis through the nonlinear regression analysis logistic model showed that non-irrigation proved fatal for the 7 sample species in a range of 22.7 to 37.6 days. The C. japonica, R. indica, Q. glauca and M. tunbergii demonstrated a high drought resistance of 30 days or longer, whereas C. camphora, D. morbifera and D. macropodum had a low resistance of 25 days or less to drought from lack of water. In conclusion, out of the 7 species of broad-leaved evergreen trees tested, C. japonica, R. indica and Q. glauca seem to be suitable for use as landscape trees, owing to their high drought resistance.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.269-276
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• 2009

Radiation treatment techniques using photon beam such as three-dimensional conformal radiation therapy (3D-CRT) as well as intensity modulated radiotherapy treatment (IMRT) demand accurate dose calculation in order to increase target coverage and spare healthy tissue. Both jaw collimator and multi-leaf collimators (MLCs) for photon beams have been used to achieve such goals. In the Pinnacle3 treatment planning system (TPS), which we are using in our clinics, a set of model parameters like jaw collimator transmission factor (JTF) and MLC transmission factor (MLCTF) are determined from the measured data because it is using a model-based photon dose algorithm. However, model parameters obtained by this auto-modeling process can be different from those by direct measurement, which can have a dosimetric effect on the dose distribution. In this paper we estimated JTF and MLCTF obtained by the auto-modeling process in the Pinnacle3 TPS. At first, we obtained JTF and MLCTF by direct measurement, which were the ratio of the output at the reference depth under the closed jaw collimator (MLCs for MLCTF) to that at the same depth with the field size $10{\times}10\;cm^2$ in the water phantom. And then JTF and MLCTF were also obtained by auto-modeling process. And we evaluated the dose difference through phantom and patient study in the 3D-CRT plan. For direct measurement, JTF was 0.001966 for 6 MV and 0.002971 for 10 MV, and MLCTF was 0.01657 for 6 MV and 0.01925 for 10 MV. On the other hand, for auto-modeling process, JTF was 0.001983 for 6 MV and 0.010431 for 10 MV, and MLCTF was 0.00188 for 6 MV and 0.00453 for 10 MV. JTF and MLCTF by direct measurement were very different from those by auto-modeling process and even more reasonable considering each beam quality of 6 MV and 10 MV. These different parameters affect the dose in the low-dose region. Since the wrong estimation of JTF and MLCTF can lead some dosimetric error, comparison of direct measurement and auto-modeling of JTF and MLCTF would be helpful during the beam commissioning.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.62-73
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• 2000

Purpose: Esophageal cancer patients have a difficulty in the intake of meals through the blocked esophageal lumen, which is caused by an ingrowth of cancer cells and largely influences on the prognosis. It is reported that esophageal cancer has a very low survival rate due to the lack of nourishment and immunity as the result of this. In this study a new radioactive stent, which prevents tumor ingrowth and restenosis by additional radiation treatment, has been developed. Materials and Methods: Using ${\ulcorner}HANARO{\lrcorner}$ research reactor, the radioactive stent assembly ($^{166}Ho$-SA) was prepared by covering the metallic stent with a radioactive sleeve by means of a post-irradiation and pre-irradiation methods. Results: Scanning electron microscopy and autoradiography exhibited that the distribution of $^{165/166}Ho\;(NO_3)$ compounds in polyurethane matrix was homogeneous. A geometrical model of the esophagus considering its structural properties, was developed for the computer simulation of energy deposition to the esophageal wall. The dose distributions of $^{166}Ho$-stent were calculated by means of the EGS4 code system. The sources are considered to be distributed uniformly on the surface in the form of a cylinder with a diameter of 20 mm and length of 40 mm. As an animal experiment, when radioactive stent developed in this study was inserted into the esophagus of a Mongrel dog, tissue destruction and widening of the esophageal lumen were observed. Conclusion: We have developed a new radioactive stent comprising of a radioactive tubular sleeve covering the metallic stent, which emits homogeneous radiation. If it is inserted into the blocked or narrowed lumen, it can lead to local destruction of the tumor due to irradiation effect with dilatation resulting from self-expansion of the metallic property. Accordingly, it is expected that restenosis esophageal lumen by the continuous ingrowth and infiltration of cancer after insertion of our radioactive stent will be decreased remarkably.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.321-326
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• 2014

BACKGROUND: Recently, weather disasters such as hail and typhoon occur frequently. These threaten the stable cultivation of potatoes. It is very important to cultivate potatoes with stable under unexpected weather disasters. This study was performed to investigate the correlation between mophological characteristics of potato stem and its resistance to hail damage in different potato cultivars. METHODS AND RESULTS: Hail fall occurred for 8 minutes on May 31, 2012 in the field of Highland Agriculture Research Center located in Jinbu-myeon Gangwon-do. Potato crop grown in the field was affected by hail due to which the stems of potato were broken. The percentage of broken stem of potato was investigated as the level of damage by hail. To determine the difference in the ratio of broken stem among the potato cultivars, physical characteristics of potato stem such as diameter and hardness were measured. To evaluate recovery phase after hail damage, ground coverage and yield were measured. The percentage of broken stem of cv. Goun and cv. Saebong were 30%, 26%, respectively, whereas it was 5% in the cv. Atlantic. Damage by hail was the lowest in cv. Atlantic. Diameter of the stem was 15 mm in cv. Atlantic, 13 mm in cv. Goun and 11 mm in cv. Saebong. The hardness of potato cultivars was measured which was 74 N in cv. Atlantic. 71 N in cv. Goun and 59 N in cv. Saebong. The ground coverage in cv. Atlantic was 79%, which was the highest followed by 73% in cv. Saebong and 56% in cv. Goun. The yield of cv. Atlantic was monitored at 90 days after planting which was 40 MT/ha and that of cv. Saebong was 36 MT/ha, whereas in cv. Goun, it was 30 MT/ha which was the lowest. CONCLUSION: The ratio of broken stem in cv. Atlantic was the lowest compared to cultivars. In the physical characteristics of stem, cv. Atlantic was the highest in value of diameter and hardness. Based on these results, it was considered that cv. Atlantic was resistant to hail damage compared to other cultivars.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.179-184
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• 2013

BACKGROUND: Accurate estimates of total direct $CH_4$ emissions from croplands on a country scale are important for global budgets of anthropogenic sources of $CH_4$ emissions and for the development of effective mitigation strategies. Methane production resulted by the anaerobic decomposition of organic compounds where $CO_2$ acts as inorganic electron acceptor. This process could be affected by the addition of rice straw, water management and rice variety itself. METHODS AND RESULTS: Rice (Oryza sativa L. Japonica type, var Samkwangbyeo) was cultivated in four plots: (1) Nitrogen-Phosphorus-Potassium (NPK) ($N-P_2O_5-K_2O$:90-45-57 kg/ha); (2) NPK plus 3 Mg/ha rice straw (RS3); (3) NPK plus 5 Mg/ha rice straw (RS5); (4) NPK plus 7 Mg/ha rice straw (RS7) for 3 years (2010-2012) and the rice straw incorporated in fall (Nov.) in Gyeonggi-do Hwaseong-si. Gas samples were collected using the closed static chamber which were installed in each treated plot of $152.9m^2$. According to application of 3, 5, 7 Mg/ha of rice straw, methane emission increased by 46, 101, 190%, respectively, compared to that of the NPK plot. CONCLUSION(S): We obtained a quantitative relationship between $CH_4$ emission and the amount of rice straw applied from rice fields which could be described by polynomial regression of order 2. The emission scaling factor estimated by the relationship were in the range of IPCC GPG (2000).

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.10-19
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• 2000

Due to the urbanization, concentrated population, and limited land exploitation in the modern society, the environment surrounding that we live in is getting polluted more and more, and it has become hard even to let urban children experience the nature. This research was conducted to help people recognize the importance of our natural resources through the environmental education of elementary school and to use school's practical open-space for the Indigenous Plants education. The results of this study are as follows : First, the status of a plant utilization in our institutional education : There were 362 species totally of 124 species of Trees, 156 species of Herbs, 63 species of Crops, and 19 species of Hydrophytes which appear in the elementary school text book. Of all, the most frequently appearing species of tree were the Malus pumila var. dulcissima, Pinus densijlora, Citrus unshiu, Diospyros kaki. Second, the effect of plant education using the land around schools : The result of research on the open-space of the 19 elementary schools located in Mapo-gu showed that most of the species planted are the Juniperus chinensisrose, Hibiscus syriacus. Pelargonium inquinans in the order of size, and the plants appearing in text book were grown in the botanical garden organized in 7 schools. Especially most of the Indigenous Plants were being planted in botanical garden, and Pinus densijlora, Abeliophyllum distichum, Polygonatum var. plurijlorum, Liriope platyphylla and so on. Last, the result of this research on recognition of Environment, Planting education and Indigenous plants : It showed that educational necessity of students and teachers about environment and Indigenous Plants was more than 80%. The management of botanical garden was conducted by some teachers and managers. The results of this study suggested that we needed the reconstruction of curriculum, the efficient application of plant education for effectiveness of using school environment and monitoring continually and construction information sources for the better environment education in the elementary schools.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.57 no.4
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• pp.418-423
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• 2012

Field experiments were carried out to improve the cultural practice of potato by analysing its tuberization patterns. Tuberization patterns affected by different altitudes was analyzed at two potato cultivation regions, Jinbu (600 m) and Daegwallyung (800 m) using two potato cultivars, 'Superior' and 'Atlantic'. To analyse tuberization patterns affected by different planting time, seed potatoes were planted at every 10 days from April 19 to May 19 in Daegwallyung. Total dry weight was greater in plant grown at the altitude of 800 m than 600 m during the entire growth period and the highest increase was observed at the early growth period, July 6, comparing to other growth period. The total dry weight was the greatest at 110~112 days after planting (DAP) at the altitude of 800 m and 108~111 DAP at 600 m. There was no significant differences between altitudes and between cultivars. Tuber dry weight per plant at the altitude of 600 m was lower than 800 m on July 6 (58 DAP), but it increased rapidly from July 21 (73 DAP). At both altitudes, the increase of tuber dry weight per plant from July 6 to August 8 was higher than the other growth period. The time of growth period at which tuber dry weight per plant was the highest was similar at both altitudes that was 118~125 DAP at the altitude 800 m and 118~124 DAP at the altitude 600 m. Dry weight per tuber at the altitude 800m was higher than 600 m due to the number of tubers per plant. A higher increase of crop growth rate (CGR) was shown at the altitude 600 m on July 6 (58 DAP), comparing to at 800 m. The highest tuber dry weight per plant of each cultivar was shown when the planting time was April 29 for 'Superior' and was April 19 for 'Atlantic'. Both the tuber dry weight of plant and the total dry weight were lower at a later planting time. Dry weight per tuber increased quickly during the period between June 30 to August 8. Tuberization period was shortened as the planting time was delayed.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.54 no.2
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• pp.135-142
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• 2009

This experiment was conducted to determine the usability of biodegradable plastic in the mulching cultivation of sweetpotato. For this, we investigated the physical characteristics, biodegradability, leaching, yield, workability, etc. of biodegradable films. Compared with general mulching materials, biodegradable Poly butyleneadipate-co-butylene succinate (PBSA) and PLC+starch showed $2{\sim}27$% higher tensile strength, but $2{\sim}22$% lower elongation and $2{\sim}6$% lower tear strength. In the leaching test on the biodegradable films, heavy metals were detected very little or not at all. As to difference in ground temperature according to mulching material, the temperature was high in order of PLC+starch > PBSA > Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE) > Control during the period from late June to mid July, but in order of LDPE > PLC+starch > PBSA > None during the period from late July to late September. In the mulching cultivation of sweet potato, biodegradable films PBSA (EA, EB, EC) and PLC+starch (DD, DE, DF) began to degrade after 60 days from the cut planting of sweet potato, and over 95% degraded after 120 days. The quantity of roots was 3,070 kg/10a for PBSA, 3,093 kg/10a for PLC-starch, and 2,946 kg/l10a for LDPE, showing no significant difference according to mulching material. Considering the physical characteristics, biodegradability, environment, convenience in harvesting work, yield, etc. of the films in the mulching cultivation of sweet potato, biodegradable films are expected to be very useful.