• Journal of the Korean Society of Hazard Mitigation
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.29-35
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• 2009

In this study, quantitative homogeneity analysis was performed between rainfall observation data set of Chukwooki(CWK) and rainfall observation data set of modern rain gage(MRG) using statistical methods such as basic statistics, K-S test and Boxplots. To analyze the homogeneities of CWK and MRG four rainfall characteristic series such as monthly rainfall, the ratio of maximum daily rainfall to monthly rainfall, number of rainy days for each month, and the ratio of monthly rainfall to numbers of rainy days are made, and the homogeneity tests using two sample K-S test and quantitative comparisons were performed. The test results showed that observation precisions between CWK and MRG of original data set(M00) were differed because M00 clearly showed the statistical significances on differences of numbers of monthly rainy days of CWK and MRG. But, rainfall showed a little differences which were not significant between CWK and MRG.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.121-128
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• 2022

Purpose: This study evaluated the quality of plans based on magnetic resonance-guided radiotherapy (MRgRT) tri-Co-60, linac, and conventional linac-based volumetric modulated arc therapy (linac-VMAT) for prostate cancer. Methods: Twenty patients suffering from prostate cancer with intermediate risk who were treated by MAT were selected. Additional treatment plans (primary and boost plans) were generated based on MRgRT-tri-Co-60 and MRgRT-linac. The planning target volume (PTV) of MRgRT-based plans was created by adding a 3 mm margin from the clinical target volume (CTV) due to high soft-tissue contrast and real-time motion imaging. On the other hand, the PTV of conventional linac was generated based on a 1 cm margin from CTV. The targets of primary and boost plans were prostate plus seminal vesicle and prostate only, respectively. All plans were normalized to cover 95% of the target volume by 100% of the prescribed dose. Dosimetric characteristics were evaluated for each of the primary, boost, and sum plans. Results: For target coverage and conformity, the three plans showed similar results. In the sum plans, the average value of V_65Gy of the rectum of MRgRT-linac (2.62%±2.21%) was smaller than those of MRgRT tri-Co-60 (9.04%±3.01%) and linac-VMAT (9.73%±7.14%) (P<0.001). In the case of bladder, the average value of V_65Gy of MRgRT-linac was also smaller. Conclusions: In terms of organs at risk sparing, MRgRT-linac shows the best value while maintaining comparable target coverage among the three plans.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.62 no.1
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• pp.10-26
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• 2019

Magnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound (MRgFUS) is an emerging new technology with considerable potential to treat various neurological diseases. With refinement of ultrasound transducer technology and integration with magnetic resonance imaging guidance, transcranial sonication of precise cerebral targets has become a therapeutic option. Intensity is a key determinant of ultrasound effects. High-intensity focused ultrasound can produce targeted lesions via thermal ablation of tissue. MRgFUS-mediated stereotactic ablation is non-invasive, incision-free, and confers immediate therapeutic effects. Since the US Food and Drug Administration approval of MRgFUS in 2016 for unilateral thalamotomy in medication-refractory essential tremor, studies on novel indications such as Parkinson's disease, psychiatric disease, and brain tumors are underway. MRgFUS is also used in the context of blood-brain barrier (BBB) opening at low intensities, in combination with intravenously-administered microbubbles. Preclinical studies show that MRgFUS-mediated BBB opening safely enhances the delivery of targeted chemotherapeutic agents to the brain and improves tumor control as well as survival. In addition, BBB opening has been shown to activate the innate immune system in animal models of Alzheimer's disease. Amyloid plaque clearance and promotion of neurogenesis in these studies suggest that MRgFUS-mediated BBB opening may be a new paradigm for neurodegenerative disease treatment in the future. Here, we review the current status of preclinical and clinical trials of MRgFUS-mediated thermal ablation and BBB opening, described their mechanisms of action, and discuss future prospects.

• Journal of Korea Water Resources Association
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• v.43 no.7
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• pp.645-655
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• 2010

In this study, occurrences of relative probabilistic changing points between Chukwooki rainfall data (CWK) and modern rain gage data (MRG) were analyzed using Barry and Hartigan (BH) Bayesian changing points estimation method which estimated the changing points by calculation of change probabilities at each point. Since any natural phenomenon cannot be simulated identically and perfectly, a statistical method which can not consider the sequential order has its limitation on prediction of a specific time of occurrence. In this respect, Homogeneity analysis between CWK and MRG was performed through the occurrence investigation of relative probabilistic changing points for four rainfall characteristics of data sets using BH bayesian model which estimate the change point by calculating the relative probabilities in each data points. The results show that statistical characteristics of CWK are not different significantly from MRG, even though considered that there may be little quantitative difference CWK and MRG caused from limitation of measurement accuracy of CWK.

• International conference on construction engineering and project management
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• 2009.05a
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• pp.800-807
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• 2009

The limited public funds available for infrastructure projects have led governments to consider private entities' participation in long-term contracts for finance, construction, and operation of these projects to share risks and rewards between the public and the private. Because these projects have complicated risk evolutions, diverse contractual forms for each project member to hedge risks involved in a project are necessary. In light of this, Build-Operate-Transfer(BOT) model is considered as effective to accomplish Public Private Partnerships(PPPs) with a characteristic of an ownership-reversion. In BOT projects, the government has used such an incentive system as minimum revenue guarantee(MRG) agreement to attract the private's participation. Although this agreement turns out critical in success of BOT project, there still exist problematic issues in a financial feasibility analysis since the traditional capital budgeting theory, Net Present Value(NPV) analysis, has failed to evaluate the contingent characteristic of MRG agreement. The purpose of this research is to develop real option model based on option pricing theory so as to provide a theoretical framework in valuing MRG agreement in BOT projects. To understand the applicability of the model, the model is applied to the example of the BOT toll road project and the results are compared with that by NPV analysis. Finally, we found that the impact of the MRG agreement is significant on the project value. Hence, the real option model can help the government establish better BOT policies and the developer make appropriate bidding strategies.

• The Journal of Korean Society for Radiation Therapy
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• v.32
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• pp.73-83
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• 2020

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to confirm the matching of the electron density between tissue and gas due to variation of abdominal gas volume in MRgART (Magnetic Resonance-guided Adaptive Radiation Therapy) for pancreatic cancer patients, and to confirm the effect on the dose change and treatment time. Materials and Methods: We compared the PTV and OAR doses of the initial plan and the AGC(Abdominal gas correction) plans to one pancreatic cancer patient who treated with MRgART using the ViewRay MRIdian System (Viewray, USA) at this clinic. In the 4fx AGC plans, Beam ON(%) according to the patient's motion error was checked to confirm the effect of abdominal gas volume on treatment time. Results: Comparing the Initial plan with the average value of AGC plan, the dose difference was -7 to 0.1% in OAR and decreased by 0.16% on average, and in PTV, the dose decreased by 4.5% to 5.5% and decreased by 5.1% on average. In Adaptive treatment, as the abdominal gas volume increased, the Beam ON(%) decreased. Conclusion: Abdominal gas volume variation causes dose change due to inaccurate electron density matching between tissue and gas. In addition, if the abdominal gas volume increases, the Beam ON(%) decreases, and the treatment time may increase due to the motion error of the patient. Therefore, in MRgART, it is necessary to check the electron density matching and minimize the variability of the abdominal gas.

• Journal of Korean Medical Science
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• v.33 no.44
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• pp.279.1-279.16
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• 2018

Magnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound (MRgFUS) is a new emerging neurosurgical procedure applied in a wide range of clinical fields. It can generate high-intensity energy at the focal zone in deep body areas without requiring incision of soft tissues. Although the effectiveness of the focused ultrasound technique had not been recognized because of the skull being a main barrier in the transmission of acoustic energy, the development of hemispheric distribution of ultrasound transducer phased arrays has solved this issue and enabled the performance of true transcranial procedures. Advanced imaging technologies such as magnetic resonance thermometry could enhance the safety of MRgFUS. The current clinical applications of MRgFUS in neurosurgery involve stereotactic ablative treatments for patients with essential tremor, Parkinson's disease, obsessive-compulsive disorder, major depressive disorder, or neuropathic pain. Other potential treatment candidates being examined in ongoing clinical trials include brain tumors, Alzheimer's disease, and epilepsy, based on MRgFUS abilities of thermal ablation and opening the blood-brain barrier. With the development of ultrasound technology to overcome the limitations, MRgFUS is gradually expanding the therapeutic field for intractable neurological disorders and serving as a trail for a promising future in noninvasive and safe neurosurgical care.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.62 no.3
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• pp.353-360
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• 2019

Epilepsy surgery that eliminates the epileptogenic focus or disconnects the epileptic network has the potential to significantly improve seizure control in patients with medically intractable epilepsy. Magnetic resonance-guided laser interstitial thermal therapy (MRgLITT) has been an established option for epilepsy surgery since the US Food and Drug Administration cleared the use of MRgLITT in neurosurgery in 2007. MRgLITT is an ablative stereotactic procedure utilizing heat that is converted from laser energy, and the temperature of the tissue is monitored in real-time by MR thermography. Real-time quantitative thermal monitoring enables titration of laser energy for cellular injury, and it also estimates the extent of tissue damage. MRgLITT is applicable for lesion ablation in cases that the epileptogenic foci are localized and/or deep-seated such as in the mesial temporal lobe epilepsy and hypothalamic hamartoma. Seizure-free outcomes after MRgLITT are comparable to those of open surgery in well-selected patients such as those with mesial temporal sclerosis. Particularly in patients with hypothalamic hamartoma. In addition, MRgLITT can also be applied to ablate multiple discrete lesions of focal cortical dysplasia and tuberous sclerosis complex without the need for multiple craniotomies, as well as disconnection surgery such as corpus callosotomy. Careful planning of the target, the optimal trajectory of the laser probe, and the appropriate parameters for energy delivery are paramount to improve the seizure outcome and to reduce the complication caused by the thermal damage to the surrounding critical structures.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.33 no.12
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• pp.1606-1614
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• 2023

Biochemical gut metabolism of dietary bioactive compounds is of great significance in elucidating health-related issues at the molecular level. In this study, a human gut bacterium cleaving C-C glycosidic bond was screened from puerarin conversion to daidzein, and a new, gram-positive C-glycoside-deglycosylating strain, Dorea sp. MRG-IFC3, was isolated from human fecal sample under anaerobic conditions. Though MRG-IFC3 biotransformed isoflavone C-glycoside, it could not metabolize other C-glycosides, such as vitexin, bergenin, and aloin. As evident from the production of the corresponding aglycons from various 7-O-glucosides, MRG-IFC3 strain also showed 7-O-glycoside cleavage activity; however, flavone 3-O-glucoside icariside II was not metabolized. In addition, for mechanism study, C-glycosyl bond cleavage of puerarin by MRG-IFC3 strain was performed in D₂O GAM medium. The complete deuterium enrichment on C-8 position of daidzein was confirmed by ¹H NMR spectroscopy, and the result clearly proved for the first time that daidzein is produced from puerarin. Two possible reaction intermediates, the quinoids and 8-dehydrodaidzein anion, were proposed for the production of daidzein-8d. These results will provide the basis for the mechanism study of stable C-glycosidic bond cleavage at the molecular level.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.25 no.5
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• pp.778-784
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• 2009

The purpose of this study is to figure out the differences of the inflow rates of Sewage Treatment Plants (STP), invested by public fund or public-private partnership (PPP). This paper finds that the average ratio of sewage inflow according to facility capacities (medium and small scale STP) was either nearly below 30% or above 100% in the first year. As the size of STP increased, there was decrease in the accuracy of demand assumption. This was because the operation time when the ratio of sewage inflow was uniform was different according to the size of STP, whereby the time was short when the STP were small. The design average ratio of sewage inflow was 10% larger than the real average ratio; this was considered overdesigned. In the case of a plant built by the PPP scheme, the average ratio of inflow of the STP before an abolition of MRG was larger than after the abolition of MRG. This may be explained by moral hazard from too much reliance on MRG. After the abolition of MRG, the demand risk of PPP was shifted from a PPP project to a conventional project.