• Journal of the Korean Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.181-192
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• 2014

In this paper, we propose a robust real-time myocardial border tracking algorithm for echocardiography. Commonly, after an initial contour of LV border is traced at one or two frame from the entire cardiac cycle, LV contour tracking is performed over the remaining frames. Among a variety of tracking techniques, optical flow method is the most widely used for motion estimation of moving objects. However, when echocardiography data is heavily corrupted in some local regions, the errors bring the tracking point out of the endocardial border, resulting in distorted LV contours. This shape distortion often occurs in practice since the data acquisition is affected by ultrasound artifacts, dropout or shadowing phenomena of cardiac walls. The proposed method deals with this shape distortion problem and reflects the motion realistic LV shape by applying global deformation modeled as affine transform partitively to the contour. We partition the tracking points on the contour into a few groups and determine each affine transform governing the motion of the partitioned contour points. To compute the coefficients of each affine transform, we use the least squares method with equality constraints that are given by the relationship between the coefficients and a few contour points showing good tracking results. Many real experiments show that the proposed method supports better performance than existing methods.

• International Journal of Aerospace System Engineering
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.29-33
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• 2015

The multidisciplinary design optimization (MDO) of a launch vehicle (LV) with a hybrid rocket engine (HRE) was carried out to investigate the ability of an HRE for a single-stage LV. The non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm-II (NSGA-II) was employed to solve two design problems. The design problems were formulated as two-objective cases involving maximization of the downrange distance over the target flight altitude and minimization of the gross weight, for two target altitudes: 50.0 km and 100.0 km. Each objective function was empirically estimated. Several non-dominated solutions were obtained using the NSGA-II for each design problem, and in each case, a trade-off was observed between the two objective functions. The results for the two design problem indicate that economical performance of the LV is limited with the HRE in terms of the maximum downrange distances achievable. The LV geometries determined from the non-dominated solutions were examined.

• Journal of Korean Medical Ki-Gong Academy
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.1-27
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• 2023

Objective : This paper provides a narrative review of the research literature on the neurophysiological and neurochemical mechanisms of local vibration while studying the treatment principles and mechanisms of Whidam's vibrator Sugi therapy. Methods : Searches related to vibration therapy research were conducted in PUBMED using "Vibration", "Whole Body Vibration", "Localized Vibration", and "Focal Vibration". The Conditions were limited to review and systematic review. Results : Roberto Casale's paper was selected as an inquiry task and reviewed critically and narratively by referring to other papers. The stimulation process of local vibration (LV) was broadly classified into receptor transmission (pain reception phase), ascending sensory pathway to the spinal cord (segmental phase), and action of the cortex and subcortical structures (systemic control phase) according to the pain pathway. In addition, the role of C-tactile mechanoreceptors, changes in neurotransmitters and neurohormones, LV stimulation below perception threshold (lower threshold), pain control and kinesiologic illusions were specially addressed. In addition, the expression and function of Piezo Channels were added to supplement the human pain and tactile sensing mechanism. Conclusions : LV exerts pain control mechanisms through different interactions that can interfere with pain transmission and pain perception. Since LV provides sufficient neurophysiological reasons for clinical application, it is necessary to expand the use of Whidam's vibrator Sugi therapy to a wider range of clinical applications.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.462-470
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• 2020

Objective: To demonstrate that human visual illusion can contribute to sub-endocardial dark rim artifact in contrast-enhanced myocardial perfusion magnetic resonance images. Materials and Methods: Numerical phantoms were generated to simulate the first-passage of contrast agent in the heart, and rendered in conventional gray scale as well as in color scale with reduced luminance variation. Cardiac perfusion images were acquired from two healthy volunteers, and were displayed by the same gray and color scales used in the numerical study. Before and after k-space windowing, the left ventricle (LV)-myocardium boarders were analyzed visually and quantitatively through intensity profiles perpendicular the boarders. Results: k-space windowing yielded monotonically decreasing signal intensity near the LV-myocardium boarder in the phantom images, as confirmed by negative finite difference values near the board ranging -1.07 to -0.14. However, the dark band still appears, which is perceived by visual illusion. Dark rim is perceived in the in-vivo images after k-space windowing that removed the quantitative signal dip, suggesting that the perceived dark rim is a visual illusion. The perceived dark rim is stronger at peak LV enhancement than the peak myocardial enhancement, due to the larger intensity difference between LV and myocardium. In both numerical phantom and in-vivo images, the illusory dark band is not visible in the color map due to reduced luminance variation. Conclusion: Visual illusion is another potential cause of dark rim artifact in contrast-enhanced myocardial perfusion MRI as demonstrated by illusory rim perceived in the absence of quantitative intensity undershoot.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.61 no.4
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• pp.434-440
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• 2018

Objective : The purpose of this study was to find an optimal delivery route for clinical trials of intrathecal cell therapy for spinal cord injury in preclinical stage. Methods : We compared in vivo distribution of Cy5.5 fluorescent dye in the spinal cord region at various time points utilizing in vivo optical imaging techniques, which was injected into the lateral ventricle (LV) or cisterna magna (CM) of rats. Results : Although CM locates nearer to the spinal cord than the LV, significantly higher signal of Cy5.5 was detected in the thoracic and lumbar spinal cord region at all time points tested when Cy5.5 was injected into the LV. In the LV injection Cy5.5 signal in the thoracic and lumbar spinal cord was observed within 12 hours after injection, which was maintained until 72 hours after injection. In contrast, Cy5.5 signal was concentrated at the injection site in the CM injection at all time points. Conclusion : These data suggested that the LV might be suitable for preclinical injection route of therapeutics targeting the spinal cord to test their treatment efficacy and biosafety for spinal cord diseases in small animal models.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.25 no.11
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• pp.1254-1260
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• 1992

Rupture of the posterior left ventricular wall following mitral valve replacement is a rare but fatal complication. Over a 10 year period from August 25 1980 to November 27 1990, we have experienced 6 such patients among 884 cases of mitral valve replacement with 4 deaths and 2 survivors. One patient had a type I rupture and another a type II rapture with the remaining four patients having suffered type III ruptures. All of the ruptures were dis covered intraoperatively enabling prompt reinstitution of the cardiopulmonary bypass and subsequent cardioplegic arrest prior to repair. Overzealous removal of calcified valve leaflets seemed to be responsible for the single type I rupture, and untethering of the so called ventricular loop appeared to be the main mechanism responsible for the type III ruptures. The single type II rupture that had occurred seemed to have been caused by inadvertent laceration of the papillary muscle with resultant rupture of the posterior LV wall at the base of the papillary muscle. Among the type III ruptures, 2 patients required intraaortic balloon pump[IABP] support only for mechanical assistance and 1 patient required both the IABP and the Biomedicus LV assist device for successfull weaning following repair of the LV rupture Another patient with a type II rupture also required the circulatory assistance of both the IABP and the bio-medicus LV assist device for weaning from the bypass. Attention to meticulous technical considerations such as avoiding over aggressive removal of heavily calcified valvular tissue, preservation of as much mural leaflet tissue and chordal stuctures as possible seemed helpful in preventing this catastrophic complication from occurring. Fusion and fibrous stricture of the chordal structures appeared particularly conducive to the type II ruptures as a result of the increased susceptibility to papillary injury during operation.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.50 no.2
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• pp.71-77
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• 2017

Background: Cardiac computed tomography (CT) has emerged as an alternative to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for ventricular volumetry. However, the clinical use of cardiac CT requires external validation. Methods: Both cardiac CT and MRI were performed prior to pulmonary valve implantation (PVI) in 11 patients (median age, 19 years) who had undergone total correction of tetralogy of Fallot during infancy. The simplified contouring method (MRI) and semiautomatic 3-dimensional region-growing method (CT) were used to measure ventricular volumes. Results: All volumetric indices measured by CT and MRI generally correlated well with each other, except for the left ventricular end-systolic volume index (LV-ESVI), which showed the following correlations with the other indices: the right ventricular end-diastolic volume index (RV-EDVI) (r=0.88, p<0.001), the right ventricular end-systolic volume index (RV-ESVI) (r=0.84, p=0.001), the left ventricular end-diastolic volume index (LV-EDVI) (r=0.90, p=0.001), and the LV-ESVI (r=0.55, p=0.079). While the EDVIs measured by CT were significantly larger than those measured by MRI (median RV-EDVI: $197mL/m^2$ vs. $175mL/m^2$, p=0.008; median LV-EDVI: $94mL/m^2$ vs. $92mL/m^2$, p=0.026), no significant differences were found for the RV-ESVI or LV-ESVI. Conclusion: The EDVIs measured by cardiac CT were greater than those measured by MRI, whereas the ESVIs measured by CT and MRI were comparable. The volumetric characteristics of these 2 diagnostic modalities should be taken into account when indications for late PVI after tetralogy of Fallot repair are assessed.

• Aerospace Engineering and Technology
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.135-144
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• 2012

The NARO is South Korea's first carrier launch vehicle, which made its flights from NARO Space Center on 25 August 2009 and 10 June 2010. LV PACS(Preparation Automated Control System) is a electrical ground support system to monitor and control the integrated launch vehicle during the launch preparation and operation in Launch Complex. As a subsystem of LV PACS, LV PACS-II was developed for launch preparation and operation of the NARO upper stage, and all the functions and requirements were verified successfully through NARO flight tests. In this paper the core technology and characteristics applied to LV PACS-II are described.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.611-616
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• 2014

Objectives: Dendritic cell (DC)-based tumor immunotherapy needs an immunogenic tumor associated antigen (TAA) and an effective approach for its presentation to lymphocytes. In this study we explored whether transduction of DCs with lentiviruses (LVs) expressing the human interleukin-12 gene could stimulate antigen-specific cytotoxic T cells (CTLs) against human lung cancer cells in vitro. Methods: Peripheral blood monocyte-derived DCs were transduced with a lentiviral vector encoding human IL-12 gene (LV-12). The anticipated target of the human IL-12 gene was detected by RT-PCR. The concentration of IL-12 in the culture supernatant of DCs was measured by ELISA.Transduction efficiencies and CD83 phenotypes of DCs were assessed by flow cytometry. DCs were pulsed with tumor antigen of lung cancer cells (DC+Ag) and transduced with LV-12 (DC-LV-12+Ag). Stimulation of T lymphocyte proliferation by DCs and activation of cytotoxic T-lymphocytes (CTL) stimulated by LV-12 transduced DCs pulsed with tumor antigen against A549 lung cancer cells were assessed with methyl thiazolyltetrazolium (MTT). Results: A recombinant lentivirus expressing the IL-12 gene was successfully constructed. DC transduced with LV-12 produced higher levels of IL-12 and expressed higher levels of CD83 than non-transduced. The DC modified by interleukin -12 gene and pulsed with tumor antigen demonstrated good stimulation of lymphocyte proliferation, induction of antigen-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes and antitumor effects. Conclusions: Dendritic cells transduced with a lentivirus-mediated interleukin-12 gene have an enhanced ability to kill lung cancer cells through promoting T lymphocyte proliferation and cytotoxicity.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.294-300
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• 1999

In this study PRRSV was isolated from serum of an infected pig and designated as CNV-1, ORF4 gene was sequenced, and the nucleotide sequence, deduced amino acid sequence and the amino acid sequence of the neutralizing domain was compared with other PRRSV Strains. ORF4 gene of the Korean isolate PRRSV CNV-1 was shown to be 537bp in length, which is the same as US strain ISU55 but 21bp longer than another US strain MN1b, and 15bp shorter than European strain LV. The homologies of the nucleotide sequences between the Korean isolate CNV-1 and the US strains ISU55, MN1b and European strain LV were 91.8%, 88.1%, 67.6%, respectively, and the homologies of the deduced amino acid sequences were 94.4%, 84.4%, 68.5%, respectively. The neutralizing domain of the CNV-1 was shown to be 36 amino acids in length which is the same as ISU55, MN1b, but 4 amino acids shorter than that of the neutralizing domain reported in LV. The homologies of the amino acid sequences of the neutralizing domain between the Korean isolate CNV-1 and the US strains ISU55, MN1b and European strain LV were 92.5%, 85%, 57.5%, respectively. The molecular characteristics of ORF4 gene of the Korean isolate PRRSV CNV-1 shown in this study suggests that the CNV-1 is genetically closer to the US strains. Also the wide variation of the neutralizing domain between the CNV-1 and LV suggests that there is substantial immunogenic variation between the two strains.