• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.157-166
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• 2014

ATP in quantity co-stored with neurotransmitters in the secretory vesicles of neurons, by being co-released with the neurotransmitters, takes an important role to modulate the stimulus-secretion response of neurotransmitters. Here, in this study, the modulatory effect of ATP was studied in $Ca^{2+}$ channels of cultured rat adrenal chromaffin cells to investigate the physiological role of ATP in neurons. The $Ca^{2+}$ channel current was recorded in a whole-cell patch clamp configuration, which was modulated by ATP. In 10 mM $Ba^{2+}$ bath solution, ATP treatment (0.1 mM) decreased the $Ba^{2+}$ current by an average of $36{\pm}6%$ (n=8), showing a dose-dependency within the range of $10^{-4}{\sim}10^{-1}mM$. The current was recovered by ATP washout, demonstrating its reversible pattern. This current blockade effect of ATP was disinhibited by a large prepulse up to +80 mV, since the $Ba^{2+}$ current increment was larger when treated with ATP ($37{\pm}5%$, n=11) compared to the control ($25{\pm}3%$, n=12, without ATP). The $Ba^{2+}$ current was recorded with $GTP{\gamma}S$, the non-hydrolyzable GTP analogue, to determine if the blocking effect of ATP was mediated by G-protein. The $Ba^{2+}$ current decreased down to 45% of control with $GTP{\gamma}S$. With a large prepulse (+80 mV), the current increment was $34{\pm}4%$ (n=19), which $25{\pm}3%$ (n=12) under control condition (without $GTP{\gamma}S$). The $Ba^{2+}$ current waveform was well fitted to a single-exponential curve for the control, while a double-exponential curve best fitted the current signal with ATP or $GTP{\gamma}S$. In other words, a slow activation component appeared with ATP or $GTP{\gamma}S$, which suggested that both ATP and $GTP{\gamma}S$ caused slower activation of $Ca^{2+}$ channels via the same mechanism. The results suggest that ATP may block the $Ca^{2+}$ channels by G-protein and this $Ca^{2+}$ channel blocking effect of ATP is important in autocrine (or paracrine) inhibition of adrenaline secretion in chromaffin cell.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.240-246
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• 2016

Purpose: It is hypothesized that robotic gastrectomy may surpass laparoscopic gastrectomy after the operators acquire long-term experience and skills in the manipulation of robotic arms. This study aimed to evaluate the long-term learning curve of robotic distal gastrectomy (RDG) for gastric cancer compared with laparoscopic distal gastrectomy (LDG). Materials and Methods: From October 2008 to December 2015, patients who underwent LDG (n=809) were matched to patients who underwent RDG (n=232) at a 1:1 ratio, by using a propensity score matching method after stratification for the operative year. The surgical outcomes, such as trends of operative time, blood loss, and complication rate, were compared between the two groups. Results: The RDG group showed a longer operative time (171.3 minutes vs. 147.6 minutes, P<0.001) but less estimated blood loss (77.6 ml vs. 116.6 ml, P<0.001). The complication rate and postoperative recovery did not differ between the two groups. The RDG group showed a longer operative time and similar estimated blood loss compared with the LDG group after 5 years of experience (operative time: 159.2 minutes vs. 136.0 minutes in 2015, P=0.003; estimated blood loss: 72.9 ml vs. 78.1 ml in 2015, P=0.793). Conclusions: In terms of short-term surgical outcomes, RDG may not surpass LDG after a long-term experience with the technique.

• Proceedings of the Materials Research Society of Korea Conference
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• 2011.05a
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• pp.26.1-26.1
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• 2011

We investigated the atomic layer deposition (ALD) process for nitrogen doped ZnO and the application for n-ZnO : N/p-Si (NW) coaxial hetero-junction photodetectors. ALD ZnO:N was deposited using diethylzinc (DEZ) and diluted $NH_4OH$ at $150^{\circ}C$ of substrate temperature. About 100~300 nm diameter and 5 um length of Si nanowires array were prepared using electroless etching technique in 0.108 g of $AgNO_3$ melted 20 ml HF liquid at $75^{\circ}C$. TEM images showed ZnO were deposited on densely packed SiNW structure achieving extraordinary conformality. When UV (360 nm) light was illuminated on n-ZnO:N/p-SiNW, I-V curve showed about three times larger photocurrent generation than film structure at 10 V reverse bias. Especially, at 660 nm wave length, the coaxial structure has 90.8% of external quantum efficiency (EQE) and 0.573 A/W of responsivity.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.22 no.8
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• pp.1369-1378
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• 2021

Objective: Few attempts have been made to investigate the prognostic value of dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE) MRI or dynamic susceptibility contrast (DSC) MRI of non-enhancing, T2-high-signal-intensity (T2-HSI) lesions of glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) in newly diagnosed patients. This study aimed to investigate the prognostic values of DCE MRI and DSC MRI parameters from non-enhancing, T2-HSI lesions of GBM. Materials and Methods: A total of 76 patients with GBM who underwent preoperative DCE MRI and DSC MRI and standard treatment were retrospectively included. Six months after surgery, the patients were categorized into early progression (n = 15) and non-early progression (n = 61) groups. We extracted and analyzed the permeability and perfusion parameters of both modalities for the non-enhancing, T2-HSI lesions of the tumors. The optimal percentiles of the respective parameters obtained from cumulative histograms were determined using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and univariable Cox regression analyses. The results were compared using multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression analysis of progression-free survival. Results: The 95th percentile value (PV) of Ktrans, mean Ktrans, and median Ve were significant predictors of early progression as identified by the ROC curve analysis (area under the ROC curve [AUC] = 0.704, p = 0.005; AUC = 0.684, p = 0.021; and AUC = 0.670, p = 0.0325, respectively). Univariable Cox regression analysis of the above three parametric values showed that the 95th PV of Ktrans and the mean Ktrans were significant predictors of early progression (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.06, p = 0.009; HR = 1.25, p = 0.017, respectively). Multivariable Cox regression analysis, which also incorporated clinical parameters, revealed that the 95th PV of Ktrans was the sole significant independent predictor of early progression (HR = 1.062, p < 0.009). Conclusion: The 95th PV of Ktrans from the non-enhancing, T2-HSI lesions of GBM is a potential prognostic marker for disease progression.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.347-353
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• 2002

This study was conducted to investigate the characteristics of chloramination as a secondary disinfection in a drinking water distribution system. At the range from pH 6 to pH 8, monochloramine was predominant with a trace of dichloramine, and the free chlorine was detected after breakpoint. At $25^{\circ}C$, the breakpoints of pH 6, 7 and 8 appeared when the weight ratios of chlorine to ammonia nitrogen were 11:1, 9:1 and 10:1 respectively, and the peak points on the breakpoint curves at pH 6, 7 and 8 were in the Cl$_2$ / NH$_3$-N ratio of 9:1, 6:1 and 5:1 respectively. As pH increased from 6 to 8, maximum point of monochloramine on the breakpoint curve was moved from 7:1 to 5:1 in the weight ratio of chlorine to ammonia nitrogen. The maximum concentration of monochloramine was formed at the pH values of 7~8 and in the Cl$_2$ / NH$_3$-N ratio below 5:1. As the Cl$_2$/NH$_3$-N ratio increased and the pH lowered, chloramines decay proceeded at an increased rate, and residual chloramines lasted longer than the residual free chlorine. The monochloramine and the dichloramine were formed at pH 6, and then the dichloramine continued increasing with contact time.

• Korean Journal of Metals and Materials
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• v.48 no.2
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• pp.122-132
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• 2010

Higher strength and fracture toughness of reactor pressure vessel steels can be obtained by changing the material specification from that of Mn-Mo-Ni low alloy steel (SA508 Gr.3) to Ni-Mo-Cr low alloy steel (SA508 Gr.4N). However, the operation temperature of the reactor pressure vessel is more than $300^{\circ}C$ and the reactor operates for over 40 years. Therefore, we need to have phase stability in the high temperature range in order to apply the SA508 Gr.4N low alloy steel for a reactor pressure vessel. It is very important to evaluate the temper embrittlement phenomena of SA508 Gr.4N for an RPV application. In this study, we have performed a Charpy impact test and tensile test of SA508 Gr.4N low alloy steel with changing impurity element contents such as Mn and P. And also, the mechanical properties of these low alloy steels after longterm heat treatment ($450^{\circ}C$, 2000hr) are evaluated. Further, evaluation of the temper embrittlement by fracture analysis was carried out. Temper embrittlement occurs in KL4-Ref and KL4-P, which show a decrease of the elongation and a shifting of the transition curve toward high temperature. The reason for the temper embrittlement is the grain boundary segregation of the impurity element P and the alloying element Ni. However, KL4-Ref shows temper embrittlement phenomena despite the same contents of P and Ni compared with SC-KL4. This result may be caused by the Mn contents. In addition, the behavior of embrittlement is not largely affected by the formation of $M_3P$ phosphide or the coarsening of Cr carbides.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.5 no.6
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• pp.533-539
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• 2011

Metabolic alterations including postprandial hyperglycemia have been implicated in the development of obesity-related diseases. Xylose is a sucrase inhibitor suggested to suppress the postprandial glucose surge. The objectives of this study were to assess the inhibitory effects of two different concentrations of xylose on postprandial glucose and insulin responses and to evaluate its efficacy in the presence of other macronutrients. Randomized double-blind cross-over studies were conducted to examine the effect of D-xylose on postprandial glucose and insulin response following the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). In study 1, the overnight-fasted study subjects (n = 49) consumed a test sucrose solution (50 g sucrose in 130 ml water) containing 0, 5, or 7.5 g D-xylose powder. In study 2, the overnight-fasted study subjects (n = 50) consumed a test meal (50 g sucrose in a 60 g muffin and 200 ml sucrose-containing solution). The control meal provided 64.5 g of carbohydrates, 4.5 g of fat, and 10 g of protein. The xylose meal was identical to the control meal except 5 g of xylose was added to the muffin mix. In study 1, the 5 g xylose-containing solutions exhibited significantly lower area under the glucose curve (AUCg) and area under the insulin curve (AUCi) values for 0-15 min (P < 0.0001, P < 0.0001), 0-30 min (P < 0.0001, P < 0.0001), 0-45 min (P < 0.0001, P < 0.0001), 0-60 min (P < 0.0001, P < 0.0001), 0-90 min (P < 0.0001, P < 0.0001) and 0-120 min (P = 0.0071, P = 0.0016). In study 2, the test meal exhibited significantly lower AUCg and AUCi values for 0-15 min (P < 0.0001, P < 0.0001), 0-30 min (P < 0.0001, P < 0.0001), 0-45 min (P < 0.0001, P = 0.0005), 0-60 min (P = 0.0002, P = 0.0025), and 0-90 min (P = 0.0396, P = 0.0246). In conclusion, xylose showed an acute suppressive effect on the postprandial glucose and insulin surges.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A
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• v.40 no.5
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• pp.429-435
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• 2016

Cold stretching(CS) pressure vessels from ASS304 (austenitic stainless steel 304) are used for the transportation and storage of liquefied natural gas(LNG). CS pressure vessels are manufactured by pressurizing the finished vessels to a specific pressure to produce the required stress ${\sigma}_k$. After CS, there is some degree of plastic deformation. Therefore, CS vessels have a higher strength and lighter weight compared to conventional vessels. In this study, we investigate the tensile and fatigue behavior of ASS304 sampled by CS pressure vessels in accordance with the ASME code at cryogenic temperature. From the fatigue test results, we show S-N curves using a statistical method recommended by JSEM-S002. We carried out the fractography of fractured specimens using scanning electron microscopy (SEM).

• Magazine of the Korean Society of Agricultural Engineers
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• v.45 no.7
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• pp.49-56
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• 2003

Nonpoint source pollutant loading from watershed may cause a problem to the water quality of the reservoir and stream. The characteristics of stream flow and water quality were monitored to investigate the runoff loading of the Namdae-cheon watershed from May in 1999 to October in 2003. Stage-discharge rating curve at the stream gauging site was established, and annual stream runoff of the study watershed was estimated as 499.4∼1,330.8mm during four years. The concentrations of total-nitrogen and total-phosphorus of stream water quality ranged from 0.76 to 6.95mg/L and from 0.0010 to 0.2276 mg/L, respectively, where T-N was generally higher than the water quality standard 1.0 mg/L for agricultural water use. The loads by unit generation of pollutant mass with respect to population, livestock, land use in this watershed were calculated. The runoff pollutant loadings by concentrations of total-N and total-P were estimated during study period, where the annual runoff loading of total-P was much less than the load by pollutant mass unit generation. The relations between stream discharge and water quality were analysed, and there was a high correlation for total-N but low for total-P. These results will be used to develop the monitoring techniques and water quality management system of agricultural watershed.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.21 no.10
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• pp.1203-1212
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• 2012

Yongsan ward is located at central place connecting south and north ecology axis of seoul. Various environment-friendly Yongsan development could pose positive effects on NPS(non pollutant source) pollutant reductions and water quality improvement at Han-rive because BOD, T-N, and T-P NPS discharges took 90% of total pollutant from this area. In this study, direct runoff and NPS pollutant loads were evaluated before and after development using spatio-tamporal change in CN(curve number) and EMC(event mean concentration) data. It was found that direct runoff value is $23,584,724m^3$, and BOD, T-N and T-P loads are 104,456 kg/year, 111,483 kg/year and 7,500 kg/year under pre-development condition, respectively. Annual runoff, BOD, T-N and T-P reducing rate were 12.9%, 33.3%, 35.6% and 40.7% under integrated post-development condition, respectively. Based on the results obtained in this study, environment-friendly urban development could be achieved at Yongsan area.