• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.30-38
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• 2001

Background: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging for monitoring the response to radiation therapy in metastatic bone marrow of the spines. Materials and Methods: Twenty-one patients with metastatic bone marrow of the spines were examined with MRI. Diffusion-weighted and spin-echo MRI were performed in 10 patients before and after radiation therapy with or without systemic chemotherapy, and performed in 11 patients after radiation therapy alone. Follow up spin-echo and diffusion-weighted MRI were obtained at 1 to 6 months after radiation therapy according to patients' condition. The diffusion-weighted imaging sequence was based on reversed fast imaging with steady-state precession (PSIF). Signal intensity changes of the metastatic bone marrows before and after radiation therapy on conventional spin-echo sequence MRI and diffusion-weighted MRI were evaluated. Bone marrow contrast ratios and signal-to-noise ratios before and after radiation therapy of diffusion- weighted MRI were analyzed. Results: All metastatic bone marrow of the spinal bodies were hyperintense to normal bone marrow of the spinal bodies on pretreatment diffusion-weighted MRI and positive bone marrow contrast ratios(p<0.001), and hypointense to normal spinal bodies on posttreatment diffusion-weighted MRI and negative bone marrow contrast ratios(p<0.001). The signal to noise ratios after treatment decreased comparing with those of pretreatment. Decreased signal intensity of the metastatic bone marrows on diffusion-weighted MRI began to be observed at average more than one month after the initiation of the radiation therapy. Conclusion: These results suggest that diffusion-weighted MRI would be an excellent method for monitoring the response to therapy of metastatic bone marrow of the spinal bodies, however, must be investigated in a larger series of patients with longer follow up period.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.867-879
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• 2021

Objective: Fibronectin 3 (FN3) and immunoglobulin like modules (Ig) are usually collocated beside modular cellulase catalytic domains. However, very few researches have investigated the role of these modules. In a previous study, we have sequenced and analyzed bacterial metagenomic DNA in Vietnamese goats' rumen and found that cellulase-producing bacteria and cellulase families were dominant. In this study, the properties of modular cellulases and the role of a FN3 in unique endoglucanase belonging to glycosyl hydorlase (GH) family 5 were determined. Methods: Based on Pfam analysis, the cellulases sequences containing FN3, Ig modules were extracted from 297 complete open reading frames (ORFs). The alkaline, thermostability, tertiary structure of deduced enzymes were predicted by AcalPred, TBI software, Phyre2 and Swiss models. Then, whole and truncated forms of a selected gene were expressed in Escherichia coli and purified by His-tag affinity column for assessment of FN3 ability to enhance enzyme activity, solubility and conformation. Results: From 297 complete ORFs coding for cellulases, 148 sequences containing FN3, Ig were identified. Mostly FN3 appeared in 90.9% beta-glucosidases belonging to glycosyl hydrolase family 3 (GH3) and situated downstream of catalytic domains. The Ig was found upstream of 100% endoglucanase GH9. Rarely FN3 was seen to be situated downstream of X domain and upstream of catalytic domain endoglucanase GH5. Whole enzyme (called XFN3GH5 based on modular structure) and truncate forms FN3, XFN3, FN3GH5, GH5 were cloned in pET22b (+) and pET22SUMO to be expressed in single and fusion forms with a small ubiquitin-related modifier partner (S). The FN3, SFN3 increased GH5 solubility in FN3GH5, SFN3GH5. The SFN3 partly served for GH5 conformation in SFN3GH5, increased modules interaction and enzyme-soluble substrate affinity to enhance SXFN3GH5, SFN3GH5 activities in mixtures. Both SFN3 and SXFN3 did not anchor enzyme on filter paper but exfoliate and separate cellulose chains on filter paper for enzyme hydrolysis. Conclusion: Based on these findings, the presence of FN3 module in certain cellulases was confirmed and it assisted for enzyme conformation and activity in both soluble and insoluble substrate.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.19 no.8
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• pp.137-150
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• 2019

In this study, we investigated the joint effects of message framing (profit vs. loss) and source type (celeb vs. general) on the persuasive effectiveness of mass media campaign to prevent drunk driving. As a result of conducting an experimental study on 218 motorcycle drivers in Vietnam, the main effects of message framing were not significant, but the interaction effect with the type of information source consistently influenced the attitude toward the advertisement, the drunk driving prevention, and the behavior intention Specifically, it is more persuasive to send a message by a general model rather than an celebrity when the loss framing method is used while it is more persuasive to send a message by a celebrity model than a general model when the gain framing is used. This study therefore provided valuable information and practical implication to the National Traffic Safety Committee of Vietnam for establishing a campaign to prevent drunk driving. In addition, this research also has valuable theoretical implication because it examines the effect of drunk driving prevention campaign on the attitude toward not only advertisement and the drunk driving prevention but also the behavior intention.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.29 no.7
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• pp.1104-1116
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• 2019

In this study, we investigated the potential of using sediment bioelectrochemical systems (SBESs) for in situ treatment of the water and sediment in brackish aquaculture ponds polluted with uneaten feed. An SBES integrated into a laboratory-scale tank simulating a brackish aquaculture pond was established. This test tank and the control (not containing the SBES) were fed with shrimp feed in a scheme that mimics a situation where 50% of feed is uneaten. After the SBES was inoculated with microbial sources from actual shrimp pond sediments, electricity generation was well observed from the first experimental week, indicating successful enrichment of electrochemically active bacteria in the test tank sediment. The electricity generation became steady after 3 weeks of operation, with an average current density of $2.3mA/m^2$ anode surface and an average power density of $0.05mW/m^2$ anode surface. The SBES removed 20-30% more COD of the tank water, compared to the control. After 1 year, the SBES also reduced the amount of sediment in the tank by 40% and thus could remove approximately 40% more COD and approximately 52% more nitrogen from the sediment, compared to the control. Insignificant amounts of nitrite and nitrate were detected, suggesting complete removal of nitrogen by the system. PCR-DGGE-based analyses revealed the dominant presence of Methylophilus rhizosphaerae, Desulfatitalea tepidiphila and Thiothrix eikelboomii, which have not been found in bioelectrochemical systems before, in the bacterial community in the sediment of the SBES-containing tank. The results of this research demonstrate the potential application of SBESs in helping to reduce water pollution threats, fish and shrimp disease risks, and thus farmers' losses.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Earth Science Education
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.18-26
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• 2019

Vietnam is one of the countries most affected by climate change. Therefore, communication activities on climate change in Vietnam are focused with various media such as television, newspapers, radio, internet etc. In particular, Facebook social network is a potential media but less interested and developed. In this topic, Audience Insight tool of the Facebook social network and the online sociological survey method were conducted to assess the current status and effectiveness of climate change communication activities via Facebook in Vietnam today. Vietnam ranks seventh in the world with 58 million users. However, the number of climate change communication fanpages has only about 15 fanpages with the largest number of followings is 94,721 persons. Among of the 10 most contented Facebook users in Vietnam today, there is no fanpage related to climate change. The results of research and evaluation two fanpages of climate change communication that are the most and most frequent followers in Vietnam showed that climate change communication via Facebook in Vietnam is not as effective as expected. At the same time, online survey results also pointed out the causes of the above problems. This is the scientific basis for management agencies to find the solutions to promote the strength of Facebook social network in climate change communication in the future.

• Korean Journal of Remote Sensing
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• v.34 no.6_4
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• pp.1489-1501
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• 2018

In 2016 Kumamoto, Japan, the foreshocks of $M_j$ 6.5 and 6.4, mainshock of $M_j$ 7.3 besides more than 2,000 aftershocks occurred in succession. Large surface deformation occurred due to this serial earthquakes and three-dimensional measurements of the deformation have been presented for the study of fault structures (Baek, 2017). The 3d measurements retrieved from two ascending pairs (20160211_20160602, 20151119_20160616) and a descending pair (20160307_20160418) acquired from ALOS PALSAR-2. In order to avoid mixing ionospheric error components on along-track surface deformation, the descending multiple-aperture interferogram, which do not contain the deformation of aftershocks after 20160418, was utilized. For these reason, there was a temporal discrepancy of about 2 months in extracting the north-south deformation. In this study, we applied a directional filter based ionospheric correction to ascending multiple-aperture interferograms, in order to reduce this discrepancy and understand more accurate fault movements. As a result of the ionospheric correction, an additional displacement signal was observed nearby fault lines. The root-mean-squared errors compared to GPS were about 9.87, 8.13 cm respectively. These results show improvements of 4.8 and 6.4 times after ionospheric correction. We expected that these along-track measurements would be used to decide more accurate movements of faults related to the 2016 Kumamoto Earthquake.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Prosthodontics
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• v.57 no.3
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• pp.219-224
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• 2019

Purpose: The image registration of radiographic image and digital surface data is essential in the computer-guided implant guide system. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of using micro-screw on the working time and convenience of operators in the process of image matching for guided implant surgery. Materials and methods: A mandibular dental model was prepared in partial edentulism for Kennedy class I classification. Two micro-screws were placed on the each side of retromolar area. Radiographic and scan images were taken using computed-tomography and digital scanning. The images were superimposed by 12 operators in software in two different conditions: using remaining teeth image alone and using teeth and micro-screws images. Working time, operator convenience and satisfaction were obtained, and analyzed using the Mann-Whitney U test (${\alpha}=.05$). Results: The working time was not statistically different between image registration conditions (P>.05); however, operator convenience and satisfaction were higher in the teeth and micro-screw assisted condition than in the teeth-alone assisted condition (P<.001). Conclusion: The use of micro-screw for the image registration has no effect in working time reduction, but improves operator convenience and satisfaction.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.19 no.6
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• pp.222-235
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• 2019

Since Fukushima nuclear disaster occurred in 2011, the nuclear energy policy of the international society has been in recession. However, In Korea, the nuclear-friendly policy had remained and even expanded over the last 60 years until the Park Geun-hye government. In other words, there was the path dependence of nuclear energy policy. Since the Moon Jae-in government that pledged to perform nuclear phase-out policy in 2017 was inaugurated, the nuclear-friendly policy began to swerve from the course of path dependence. Based on the mai logic of historical institutionalism, this study looked into the change of Korean nuclear policy by before and after the Fukushima nuclear accident. As the result of this research, the external situation of Fukushima Nuclear Accident became a critical turning point and led to a change in the government's policy on nuclear power. From an institutional perspective, it influenced the paradigm of nuclear power policy, policy decision structure, and laws of nuclear power. From a doer's perspective, it influenced political idea and social acceptability. Since Moon Jae-in government was inaugurated in 2017, nuclear phase-out policy has secured its institutional foundation and nuclear power policy has basically changed from nuclear-friendly policy to nuclear phase-out policy. Therefore, the energy policy of Moon Jae-in government gets out of the nuclear power based path dependency that previous governments pursued, keeps punctuated equilibrium, and changes to renewable energy oriented policy.

• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.21-28
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• 2019

We perform a 3D tomographic inversion using surface wave dispersion curves to obtain S-velocity model and radial anisotropy beneath Saudi Arabia. The Arabian Peninsula is geologically and topographically divided into a shield and a platform. We used event data with magnitudes larger than 5.5 and epicentral distances shorter than $40^{\circ}$ during 2008 ~ 2014 from the Saudi Geological Survey. We obtained dispersion curves by using the multiple filtering technique after preprocessing the event data. We constructed SH- and SV-velocity models and consequently radial anisotropy model at 10 ~ 60 km depths by inverting Love and Rayleigh group velocity dispersion curves with period ranges of 5 ~ 140 s, respectively. We observe high-velocity anomalies beneath the Arabian shield at 10 ~ 30 km depths and low-velocity anomalies beneath the Arabian platform at 10 km depth in the SV-velocity model. This discrepancy may be caused by the difference between the Arabian shield and the Arabian platform, that is, the Arabian shield was formed in Proterozoic thereby old and cold, while the Arabian platform is covered by predominant Paleozoic, Mesozoic, and Cenozoic sedimentary layers. Also we obtained radial anisotropy by estimating the differences between SH- and SV-velocity models. Positive anisotropy is observed, which may be generated by lateral tension due to the slab pull of subducting slabs along the Zagros belt.

• Yonsei Medical Journal
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• v.59 no.9
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• pp.1026-1033
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• 2018

Purpose: Consistent evidence indicates that cervical and breast cancer screening rates are low among socioeconomically deprived women. This study aimed to assess trends in cervical and breast cancer screening rates and to analyze socioeconomic inequalities among Korean women from 2005 to 2015. Materials and Methods: Data from the Korean National Cancer Screening Survey, an annual nationwide cross-sectional survey, were utilized. A total of 19910 women were finally included for analysis. Inequalities in education and household income status were estimated by slope index of inequality (SII) and relative index of inequality (RII), along with calculation of annual percent changes (APCs), to show trends in cancer screening rates. Results: Cervical and breast cancer screening rates increased from 54.8% in 2005 to 65.6% in 2015 and from 37.6% in 2005 to 61.2% in 2015, respectively. APCs in breast cancer screening rates were significant among women with higher levels of household income and education status. Inequalities by household income in cervical cancer screening uptake were observed with a pooled SII estimate of 10.6% (95% CI: 8.1 to 13.2) and RII of 1.4 (95% CI: 1.3 to 1.6). Income inequalities in breast cancer screening were shown to gradually increase over time with a pooled SII of 5.9% (95% CI: 2.9 to 9.0) and RII of 1.2 (95% CI: 0.9 to 1.3). Educational inequalities appeared to diminish over the study period for both cervical and breast cancer screening. Conclusion: Our study identified significant inequalities among socioeconomically deprived women in cervical and breast cancer screening in Korea. Especially, income-related inequalities were greater than education-related inequalities, and these were constant from 2005 to 2015 for both cervical and breast cancer screening.