• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.55 no.6
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• pp.827-835
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• 2022

Commercial boiled frozen ark shell Scapharca subcrenata (BFAS) is generally used as a seasoned seafood products. One problem facing the industry is that quality decreases during thawing. This study investigated ways to improve quality and shelf-stability of BFAS for use as a non-thermally prepared seasoned seafood products. The Viable bacteria were detected in BFAS after thawing under running water, but were not detected after blanching for over 2 min at 95±5℃. Blanching and dewatering times were optimized by response surface methodology (RSM) to reduce the initial number of bacteria and improve BFAS texture. Experimental design was deemed appropriate because no significant difference (P>0.05) was observed between predicted and actual moisture content, hardness, and overall acceptance values. Optimal blanching and dewatering times were 210 s and 80 s, respectively. Optimized blanching and dewatering processes can significantly improve safety and BAFS qualities including texture. These results indicate that BFAS demand as a staple for home meal replacements can be increased by application of optimized blanching and dewatering processes, especially in Korean seafood processing companies where running water thawing is common.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.44-49
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• 2022

In this paper, we investigated current (I)- and voltage (V)-sweeping properties in a double-stack structure, Ge₂Sb₂Te₅/Ti/W-doped Ge₈Sb₂Te₁₁, a candidate medium for applications to multilevel phase-change memory. 200-nm-thick and W-doped Ge₂Sb₂Te₅ and W-doped Ge₈Sb₂Te₁₁ films were deposited on p-type Si(100) substrate using magnetron sputtering system, and the sheet resistance was measured using 4 point-probe method. The sheet resistance of amorphous-phase W-doped Ge₈Sb₂Te₁₁ film was about 1 order larger than that of Ge₂Sb₂Te₅ film. The I- and V-sweeping properties were measured using sourcemeter, pulse generator, and digital multimeter. The speed of amorphous-to-multilevel crystallization was evaluated from a graph of resistance vs. pulse duration (t) at a fixed applied voltage (12 V). All the double-stack cells exhibited a two-step phase change process with the multilevel memory states of high-middle-low resistance (HR-MR-LR). In particular, the stable MR state is required to guarantee the reliability of the multilevel phase-change memory. For the Ge₂Sb₂Te₅ (150 nm)/Ti (20 nm)/W-Ge₈Sb₂Te₁₁ (50 nm), the phase transformations of HR→MR and MR→LR were observed at t<30ns and t<65ns, respectively. We believe that a high speed and stable multilevel phase-change memory can be optimized by the double-stack structure of proper Ge-Sb-Te films separated by a barrier metal (Ti).

• Journal of Korean Foot and Ankle Society
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.49-54
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• 2023

Purpose: The present study examined the effectiveness of the preoperative ischemia-modified albumin (IMA) levels in predicting the healing period of amputation wounds in patients with diabetes mellitus following a non-traumatic below-knee amputation (BKA). Materials and Methods: This study enrolled 41 diabetic foot ulcer patients who underwent BKA at the authors' hospital diabetic foot center from April 2016 to April 2022. Among the 41 patients, 29 (70.7%) were male and 12 (29.3%) were female. Their mean age was 64.54±11.38 years (41~81 years). The mean follow-up period was 19.48±5.56 weeks (14~48 weeks) after BKA. The patients were divided into two groups (high IMA group and normal IMA group), which evaluated the healing period, wound dehiscence, and revision operation rate using a Fisher's exact test and Mann-Whitney U test. Three orthopedic surgeons performed stump wound evaluation, and they were evaluated as healing when all sutures were fused without oozing. Results: Thirty patients (73.2%) (group A) showed a high level of IMA (median: 91.2 U/mL), and 11 (26.8%) patients (group B) showed a normal range of IMA (median: 82.7 U/mL). In group A, the median period for wound healing took 1.4 weeks longer, which was significant (p=0.001). No statistical relationship was observed between wound dehiscence, revision operation rate, and IMA value. There was no correlation between the other risk factors (estimated glomerular filtration rate, HbA1c) and the wound healing period. Conclusion: Although there was a limitation in using IMA as the sole factor to predict the healing period of amputation wounds in patients after BKA, this study revealed a significant positive correlation between IMA and the period of stump healing after BKA. Therefore, the preoperative IMA levels may help predict the period of stump healing after BKA.

• Proceedings of the Korea Water Resources Association Conference
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• 2020.06a
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• pp.30-30
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• 2020

본 연구에서는 여름철에 농업용수(벼농사용)로서 집중적으로 지하수를 사용하는 지역에서 시기별 지하수 사용에 따른 지하수 수질변화를 평가하기 위해 수행되었다. 연구지역은 충남 홍성군 양곡리와 신곡리 일부를 포함하는 면적 2.83 ㎢(283.3 ha)에 해당하는 지역이다. 연구지역 지하수 수질의 공간적 분포 및 시간적 변화 특성 평가를 위하여 2019년 2회(7월, 10월)에 걸쳐 지하수 관정(21개소)에 대하여 조사 및 분석을 수행하였다. 지하수 샘플은 현장에서 온도(T), pH, 용존산소(DO) 및 전기전도도(EC), 산화환원전위(Eh) 등을 측정하였고, 실험실에서 주요 양이온 및 미량원소(Ca, Mg, Na, K, Si, Sr), 음이온(F, Cl, Br, NO₂, NO₃, PO₄, SO₄), 알칼리도, 용존 유기탄소(DOC)와 용존 유기물(DOM) 등을 분석하였다. 지하수 수질조사 결과, 전체의 14~15개소(67~71%)가 Ca-HCO₃ 유형으로 분류되었으며, 다음으로는 Ca-Cl 유형이 4~5개소(19~24%)가 관찰되었다. 얕은 심도의 관정에서 상대적으로 심도가 깊은 관정보다 대부분 성분(TDS, Ca, Mg, Na, K, Cl, SO₄, HCO₃, DOC)에서 높은 농도를 나타내었다. 지하수의 수질자료를 이용하여 다변량통계분석법인 주성분분석(PCA: Principal Components Analysis)과 계층적 군집분석(HCA: Hierachical Cluster Anlaysis)를 수행한 결과, 초기 3개 주요 고유성분(eigenvalue)는 PC1 54.0%, PC2 14.2%, PC3 12.3%로 전체 분산의 88.3%를 설명할 수 있었다. PC1은 Ca, Mg, Na, K, Cl, SO₄, DOC가 주요한 영향 인자였으며 PC2는 HCO₃, NO₃, DO에 영향 받음을 확인하였다. 계층적 군집분석 결과, 연구지역 지하수는 Na-Cl 유형의 C-3 관정을 제외하고는 크게 두 그룹으로 구분되어 졌다. 다변량통계분석의 결과에서도 수리지화학, 동위원소, 용존유기물 등의 특성에서 나타나는 것과 유사한 연구지역의 수질특성을 확인할 수 있었다. 연구지역은 차시기 동안 수질변화는 일부 관정을 제외하고는 유의할 만한 수준으로 관찰되지는 않았고, 지하수 사용에 따른 지하수위 회복도 빠르게 진행되고 있는 것으로 나타났다.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.49 no.5
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• pp.251-261
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• 2023

Background: This paper deals with the study of natural radioactivity in rocks from Ogun State in Southwestern Nigeria. The aim is to determine radiation emissions from rocks in order to estimate radiation hazard indices. Objectives: The following objectives were targeted: 1. To determine radiation emissions from each type of rocks; 2. To estimate radiation hazard indices based on the rocks; 3. To correlate the activity concentrations of radionuclides with major oxides. Methods: The samples were analyzed using a NaI (Tl) gamma ray spectrometric detector and PerkinElmer AAnalyst 400 AAS spectrometer. Results: The activity of ⁴⁰K, ²²⁶Ra, and ²³²Th were found in order of decreasing magnitude from pegmatite>granite>migmatite. In contrast, lower concentrations were found in shale, phosphate, clay stone, sandstone and limestone. The mean absorbed doses were 125±23 nGyh^-1 (migmatite), 74±13 nGy/h (granite), 72±13 nGyh^-1 (pegmatite), 64±09 nGyh^-1 (quartzite), 45±16 nGyh^-1 (shale), 41±09 nGyh^-1 (limestone), 41±11 nGyh^-1 (clay stone), 24±03 nGyh^-1 (phosphate), and 21±10 nGyh^-1 (sandstone). The outdoor effective dose rates in all rock samples were slightly higher than the world average dose value of 0.34 mSvy^-1. The percentage composition of SiO₂ in the rock samples was above 50 wt% except for in the limestone, shale and phosphate. Al₂O₃ ranged from 4.10~21.24 wt%, Fe₂O₃ from 0.39~7.5 wt%, and CaO from 0.09-46.6 wt%. In addition, Na₂O and K₂O were present in at least 5 wt%. Other major oxides, including TiO₂, P₂O₅, K₂O, MnO, MgO and Na₂O were depleted. Conclusions: The findings suggest that Ogun State may be described as a region with elevated background radiation. It is recommended that houses should be constructed with good cross ventilation and residences should use home radiation monitoring instruments to monitor radon emanating from walls.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.88-93
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• 2024

To evaluate the possibility as a multi-level memory medium for the Ge₂Sb₂Te₅/TiN/W-doped Ge₂Sb₂Te₅ cell structure, the crystallization rate and stabilization characteristics according to voltage (V)- and current (I)- pulse sweeping were investigated. In the cell structures prepared by a magnetron sputtering system on a p-type Si (100) substrate, the Ge₂Sb₂Te₅ and W-doped Ge₂Sb₂Te₅ thin films were separated by a barrier metal, TiN, and the individual thicknesses were varied, but the total thickness was fixed at 200 nm. All cell structures exhibited relatively stable multi-level states of high-middle-low resistance (HR-MR-LR), which guarantee the reliability of the multilevel phase-change random access memory (PRAM). The amorphousto-multilevel crystallization rate was evaluated from a graph of resistance (R) vs. pulse duration (T) obtained by the nanoscaled pulse sweeping at a fixed applied voltage (12 V). For all structures, the phase-change rates of HR→MR and MR→LR were estimated to be approximately t<20 ns and t<40 ns, respectively, and the states were relatively stable. We believe that the doublestack structure of an appropriate Ge-Sb-Te film separated by barrier metal (TiN) can be optimized for high-speed and stable multilevel PRAM.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.1-16
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• 2024

Objectives : We aimed to study the effect of Smilax China L.(SCL), which has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anticancer effects, on the growth of skin cancer cells. Methods : HaCaT cells, a normal human cell line, and skin cancer cells including A431, SK-MEL-5 and SK-MEL-28 cells were treated with Smilax China L. ethanol extract(SCL-EtOH) at concentrations of 5, 10, 20 and 40㎍/㎖. Meanwhile, JB6 Cl41, a normal mouse epithelial cell line, was treated with epidermal growth factor(EGF) and phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate(TPA), an inflammatory factor, to induce cell transformation and treated with SCL-EtOH. In addition, we treated SK-MEL-5 and SK-MEL-28 cells with SCL-EtOH at various concentrations and checked the effect on the cell cycle. Results : As a result, it showed no toxicity to HaCaT cells up to the highest concentration of 40㎍/㎖, and significant cell growth inhibition to A431, SK-MEL-5 and SK-MEL-28 cells in a time- and concentration-dependent manner. In addition, as a result of checking the shape of skin cancer cells according to SCL-EtOH treatment, it was observed that as the concentration increased, the number of normally attached and growing cells decreased and the shape of the cells changed. Colony formation was significantly reduced in a concentration-dependent manner in JB6 Cl41 cells treated with EGF or TPA. Flow cytometry analysis with propidium iodide(PI) staining showed that SCL-EtOH induced the G2/M phase arrest. We further confirmed the decrease in Cyclin B1 expression and increase in p27 expression associated with the G2/M phase of the cell cycle through western blot analysis. Flow cytometry analysis confirmed that SCL-EtOH induced cell apoptosis. Furthermore, through Western blot analysis, it was observed that the expression of cleaved-caspase-7, which is related to apoptosis, increased. Finally, it was confirmed that the expression of COX-2, an inflammatory marker protein, decreased in a concentration-dependent manner with SCL-EtOH. Conclusions : Through the above results, we have established a basis for applying SCL to the treatment of skin cancer.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.308-319
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• 2008

Temporal variations in plankton assemblages and environmental factors in Asan Bay and their relationships were examined with the data collected from February till early June, 2005. Seawater temperatures showed typical pattern of temporal change observed in temperate waters. Salinity variation was minor. Phytoplankton biomass showed two peaks, one in February only in the inner part of the bay and the other in May in the whole bay. Phytoplankton succession was clearly shown with the increase of seawater temperatures. Diatom (Bacillariophyceae) dominated in February, diatom and cryptomonads (Cryptophyceae) prevailed in May, and dinoflagellates (Dinophyceae) was most abundant in June. Spring bloom in Asan Bay occurred about one month earlier than those observed in temperate seas. Among the inorganic nutrients (N, P and Si), only silicate concentration showed a significant negative correlation with phytoplankton biomass, indicating the sink of this nutrient in the bay to be the uptake by phytoplankton. Nitrate concentration seemed to be a limiting factor in this bay during the study period. Mesozooplankton abundances showed a significant positive correlation with seawater temperatures and a significant negative correlation with phytoplankton biomass. Increase of mesozooplankton abundance followed phytoplankton increase with the time lag of about two months. This increase of zooplankton seemed to be the result of increased seawater temperatures and food.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.27-37
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• 2024

Objectives: Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a prevalent mental health condition, and techniques using sensory stimulation in processing traumatic memories have gained attention. The Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) is a psychotherapy that combines tapping on acupoints with exposure to cognitive reframing. This pilot study aimed to assess the feasibility of EFT as a treatment for PTSD by answering the following research questions: 1) What is the compliance and completion rate of patients with PTSD with regard to EFT protocol? Is the dropout rate reasonable? 2) Is the effect size of EFT protocol for PTSD sufficient to justify a future trial? Methods: Thirty participants diagnosed with PTSD were recruited. They received weekly EFT sessions for five weeks, in which they repeated a statement acknowledging the problem and accepting themselves while tapping the SI3 acupoint on the side of their hand. PTSD symptoms were evaluated using the PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5) before and after the intervention. Results: Of the 30 PTSD patients (mean age: 34.1 ± 9.1, 80% female), 96.7% showed over 80% compliance to the EFT sessions, and 86.7% completed the entire study process. The mean PCL-5 total score decreased significantly after the intervention, with a large effect size (change from baseline: -14.33 [95% CI: -19.79, -8.86], p < 0.0001, d = 1.06). Conclusion: The study suggests that EFT is a feasible treatment for PTSD, with high session compliance and low dropout rates. The effect size observed in this study supports the need for a larger trial in the future to further investigate EFT as a treatment for PTSD. However, the lack of a control group and the use of a self-rated questionnaire for PTSD symptoms are limitations of this study. The findings of this pilot study can be used to plan a future trial.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.111-119
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• 2009

Objective: The aim of this study was to compare the clinical efficacy of clomiphene citrate (CC) and letrozole combined with gonadotropins for controlled ovarian stimulation (COS) in patients with CC-induced thin endometrium Methods: Fifty-one intrauterine insemination cycles performed in patients who previously had a thin endometrium (<8 mm) to ovulation induction using CC were included in this study. A CC 100 mg/day (CC+gonadotropin group, n=26) or letrozole 2.5 or 5 mg/day (letrozole+gonadotropin group, n=25) was administered on day 3~7 of the menstrual cycle, combined with gonadotropins at dose 75~150 IU every other day starting on day 5~7. We compared total dose of gonadotropin used, endometrial thickness, endometrial pattern, number of follicles ${\geq}14\;mm$ on hCG day, pregnancy rate and multiple pregnancy rate between the two groups, which were statistically analyzed using Mann-Whitney U test or Fisher's exact test, where appropriate. Results: There were no significant differences in clinical characteristics such as age, duration of infertility, number of previous IUI cycles, basal serum hormone levels and cause of infertility between the two groups. In both groups, the endometrium was significantly thicker than that of previous ovulation induction cycles using CC. No significant differences were found in the total dose of gonadotropin used, day of hCG administration, the rate of triple endometrium and pregnancy rate. The number of follicles ${\geq}14\;mm$ was significantly lower ($3.7{\pm}1.7$ vs. $2.8{\pm}1.7$, p=0.03) and the endometrium on hCG day was significantly thicker ($7.7{\pm}1.5$ vs. $9.1{\pm}1.7$, p=0.001) in letrozole+gonadotropin group compared to CC+gonadotropin group. Conclusion: The clomiphene citrate and letrozole combined with gonadotropins appear to avoid the undesirable effects on the endometrium frequently seen with CC for ovulation induction. However, in terms of adequate endometrial development or optimal follicular growth, letrozole may be more beneficial than CC for gonadotropin-combined COS in patients with CC-induced thin endometrium. Further prospective randomized controlled studies in a larger scale will be necessary to confirm our findings.