• Membrane Journal
• /
• v.32 no.4
• /
• pp.253-263
• /
• 2022

This study suggests a guideline for designing unit process of wastewater reuse in terms of a maintenance of the process based on critical parameters to draw a high quality performance of RO unit. Defining the parameters was done by applying membrane integrity test (MIT) in pretreatment process utilizing lab-scale MF. SDI is utilized for judging whether permeate is suitable to RO unit. However, result said TOC concentration matching with particle count analysis is better for judging the permeate condition. When membrane test pressure (P_test) was measured to derive log removal value in PDT, virgin state of membrane fiber was used to measure dynamic contact angle utilizing surface tension of the membrane fiber. Actually, foulant affects to the state of membrane surface, and it decreases the P_test value along with time elapsed. Consequently, LRV_DIT is also affected by P_test value. Thus, sensitivity of direct integrity test descends with result of P_test value change, so P_test value should be considered not the virgin state of the membrane but its current state. Overall, this study focuses on defining design parameters suitable to MF pretreatment for RO process in wastewater reuse by assessing its impact. Therefore, utilities can acknowledge that the membrane surface condition must be considered when users conduct the direct integrity test so that P_test and other relative parameter used to calculate LRV_DIT are adequately measured.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
• /
• v.17 no.7
• /
• pp.1133-1138
• /
• 2023

This study analyzed the relationship between image parameters and specific absorption rate (SAR) in various sequence environments to optimize SAR. For this purpose, image parameters were adjusted for T2, T1, STIR, T1 FLAIR, and T2 FLAIR sequences in a 3.0T MRI, and the whole body (WB) SAR and head SAR calculated by the device were measured. Then, the SAR was evaluated by adjusting the number of images and the flip angle (FA) of the refocusing RF. As a result, SAR increased as the number of image increased in all sequences. T1 and T1 FLAIR had correlation coefficients (r) of 0.876, 0.876 (WB SAR, head SAR), 0.867, 0.867 (WB SAR, head SAR), respectively, and STIR had the highest correlation with 0.898 and 0.899 (WB SAR, head SAR). showed (p<0.05). When applied by increasing the refocusing FA, WB SAR and head SAR increased overall in all sequences. The T1 and T2 sequences showed high correlation with correlation coefficients (r) of 0.897, 0.898 (WB SAR, head SAR) and 0.914, 0.915 (WB SAR, head SAR), respectively, while the sequences to which the inversion recovery technique was applied had relatively low FA, showed less sensitivity to increase. Therefore, in a sequence with a relatively low TR, minimizing the number of image and applying the fast spin echo to reduce the refocusing FA in a sequence with a high duty cycle are effective in reducing SAR.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
• /
• v.23 no.2
• /
• pp.264-270
• /
• 2022

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the usefulness of bone single-positron emission tomography/computed tomography (SPECT/CT) of the hip in predicting the later occurrence of avascular necrosis (AVN) after slipped capital femoral epiphysis (SCFE) or femoral neck fracture in pediatric patients. The quantitative parameters of SPECT/CT useful in predicting AVN were identified. Materials and Methods: Twenty-one (male:female, 10:11) consecutive patients aged < 18 years (mean age ± standard deviation [SD], 11.0 ± 2.7 years) who underwent surgery for SCFE or femoral neck fracture and postoperative bone SPECT/CT were included. The maximum standardized uptake value (SUV), mean SUV, and minimum SUV of the femoral head were measured. The ratios of the maximum SUV, mean SUV, and minimum SUV of the affected femoral head to the contralateral side were determined. Patients were followed up for > 1 year after the surgery. The SPECT/CT parameters were compared between patients who developed AVN and those who did not. The accuracy of SPECT/CT parameters for predicting AVN was assessed. Results: Six patients developed AVN. There was a significant difference in the ratio of the mean SUV among patients who developed AVN (mean ± SD, 0.8 ± 0.3) and those who did not (1.1 ± 0.2, p = 0.018). However, there were no significant differences in the ratios of the maximum and minimum SUV between the groups (all p = 0.205). For the maximum, mean, and minimum SUVs, no significant differences were observed between the groups (p = 0.519, 0.733, and 0.470, respectively). The cutoff mean SUV ratio of 0.87 yielded a 66.7% sensitivity and 93.2% specificity for predicting AVN. Conclusion: Quantitative bone SPECT/CT is useful for evaluating femoral head viability in pediatric patients with SCFE or femoral neck fractures. Clinicians should consider the high possibility of later AVN development in patients with a decreased mean SUV ratio.

• The Journal of the Acoustical Society of Korea
• /
• v.29 no.4
• /
• pp.223-228
• /
• 2010

High-frequency bottom loss measurements for grazing angle of $82^{\circ}$ in frequency range 17-40 kHz were made in Jinhae bay in the southern part of Korea. Observations of bottom loss showed the strong variation as a function of frequency, which were compared to the predicted values using two-layered sediment reflection model. The geoacoustic parameters including sound speed, density and attenuation coefficient for the second sediment layer were predicted from the empirical relations with the mean grain size obtained from sediment core analysis. The geoacoustic parameters for the surficial sediment layer were inverted using Monte Carlo inversion algorithm. A sensitivity study for the geoacoustic parameters showed that the thickness of surficial sediment layer was most sensitive to the variation of the bottom loss.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
• /
• v.22 no.3
• /
• pp.185-191
• /
• 2003

The mechanism imparting salt tolerance to crop plants remains still unsolved, although soybean has been classified as a susceptible plant to NaCl. To determine optimum parameters on physiological responses for improving sensitivity of salinity in breeding program, soybean (Glycine max Merr., cv. "Gwan-gan") plants were grown in a greenhouse, treated 20 days after emergence for 7 days with NaCl at 0, 30, 60, and 90mM, corresponding to electric conductivity of 1.2, 4.4, 7.3, and 10.4 dS/m, respectively, and assessed 30 days after treatment. Chlorophyll contents were significantly decreased by NaCl ($0.4{\sim}1.0\;mg/g$) compared to control (1.2 mg/g). Photosynthesis rate by NaCl treatment at $0{\sim}90\;mM$ at flowering stage was ranged from 5.0 (control) to $9.6\;{\mu}mol/m^2/s$. Oxygen for respiration was consumed from 5.4 to $9.7\;{\mu}mol/m^2/s$ so that the ratio of $O_2$ (evolution:consumption) was increased with the increase of NaCl, indicating that $O_2$ consumption seems to go beyond $O_2$ evolution. Water potential of leaf at vegetative stage II was ranged from -0.6 to -1.8 MPa and the highest level was observed at mid-day. Water potential by salt stress was decreased with range of $-2.1{\sim}-2.7MPa$ compared to control. Transpiration was decreased from 17% to 20% by NaCl stress. Water vapor diffusing resistance of intercellular air space was affected significantly, increasing up to $16{\sim}24%$ compared to control by NaCl treatment. Salt-treated soybean tended to accumulate $Na^+$, specially in root, with reduced absorption of N, P, $K^+$, $Ca^{2+}$, and $Mg^{2+}$ contents. Free proline content of soybean leaf as affected by different NaCl concentrations was increased 4.2 times ($184{\sim}434\;{\mu}g/g$) more than control. NaCl also increased activities of nitrate reductase and peroxidase by $28{\sim}161%$ and $3{\sim}22%$, respectively. The results show that physiological characteristics of soybean plants during assay were useful as the best parameters of salt stress or salt tolerance test to improve sensitivity in screening and breeding program among cultivars or germplasms.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
• /
• v.51 no.8
• /
• pp.842-847
• /
• 2008

Purpose : Measurement of forced expiratory volume in 1 second ($FEV_1$) is usually difficult to obtain in children under six years of age because it requires active cooperation. This study evaluates the sensitivity of impulse oscillometry system (IOS) parameters for detecting airway obstruction in comparison with $FEV_1$. Methods : We studied 174 children who performed the lung function and methacholine challenge tests to diagnose asthma by IOS and spirometry. Children were divided into two subgroups according to their $PC_{20}$, which is a parameter for bronchial sensitivity. We compared IOS parameters with $FEV_1$ at the baseline, post-methacholine challenge, and evaluated their correlation. Results : At the baseline, reactance at 5 Hz (X5) and resistance at 5 Hz (R5) significantly differed between the $PC_{20}$ positive ($PC_{20}{\leq}16mg/mL$) group and $PC_{20}$ negative ($PC_{20}$ >16 mg/mL) group; however, $FEV_1$, $FEV_1$ % predicted, $FEV_1_-Zs$ (Z score) did not differ. $FEV_1$ is correlated with X5 (r=0.45, P<0.01) and R5 (r=-0.69, P<0.01). $FEV_1_-Zs$ is also correlated with X5_Zs (r=-0.26, P<0.01) and R5_Zs (r=-0.31, P<0.01). After the methacholine challenge test, dose-response slopes in $FEV_1$ and X5 significantly differed between the two subgroups (P<0.05). Conclusion : IOS parameters were more discriminative than $FEV_1$ for detecting decreased baseline lung function between two subgroups and have a good correlation with $FEV_1$.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
• /
• v.82 no.2
• /
• pp.406-416
• /
• 2021

Purpose To evaluate the association between magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-based texture parameters and Kirsten rat sarcoma viral oncogene homolog (KRAS) mutation in patients with non-mucinous rectal cancer. Materials and Methods Seventy-nine patients who had pathologically confirmed rectal non-mucinous adenocarcinoma with or without KRAS-mutation and had undergone rectal MRI were divided into a training (n = 46) and validation dataset (n = 33). A texture analysis was performed on the axial T2-weighted images. The association was statistically analyzed using the Mann-Whitney U test. To extract an optimal cut-off value for the prediction of KRAS mutation, a receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was performed. The cut-off value was verified using the validation dataset. Results In the training dataset, skewness in the mutant group (n = 22) was significantly higher than in the wild-type group (n = 24) (0.221 ± 0.283; -0.006 ± 0.178, respectively, p = 0.003). The area under the curve of the skewness was 0.757 (95% confidence interval, 0.606 to 0.872) with a maximum accuracy of 71%, a sensitivity of 64%, and a specificity of 78%. None of the other texture parameters were associated with KRAS mutation (p > 0.05). When a cut-off value of 0.078 was applied to the validation dataset, this had an accuracy of 76%, a sensitivity of 86%, and a specificity of 68%. Conclusion Skewness was associated with KRAS mutation in patients with non-mucinous rectal cancer.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.52 no.1
• /
• pp.24-36
• /
• 2002

Background: Bronchial reactivity is known to be a component of airway hyperresponsiveness, a cardinal feature of asthma, with bronchial sensitivity, and is increments in response to induced doses of bronchoconstrictors as manifested by the steepest slope of the dose-response curve. However, there is some controversy regarding methods of measuring bronchial reactivity and clinical impact of such measurements. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical significance and assess the clinical use by analyzing the relationship of the bronchial sensitivity, the clinical severity and the changes in pulmonary function with bronchial reactivity. Method: A total of 116 subjects underwent a methacholine bronchial provocation test. They were divided into 3 groups : mild intermittent, mild persistent, moderate and cough asthma. Severe patients were excluded. Methacholine PC20 was determined from the log dose-response curve and PC40 was determined by one more dose inhalation after PC20. The steepest slope of log dose-response curve, connecting PC20 with PC40, was used to calculate the bronchial reactivity. Body plethysmography and a single breath for the DLCO were done in 43 subjects before and after methacholine test. Results: The average bronchial reactivity was 38.0 in the mild intermittent group, 49.8 in the mild persistent group, 61.0 in the moderate group, and 41.1 in the cough asthma group. There was a weak negative correlation between PC20 and bronchial reactivity. A heightened bronchial reactivity tends to produce an increased clinical severity in patients with a similar bronchial sensitivity and basal spirometric pulmonary function. There were significant correlations between the bronchial reactivity and the initial pulmonary function before the methacholine test in the order of sGaw, Raw, $FEV_1$/FVC, MMFR. There were no correlations between the bronchial sensitivity and the % change in the pulmonary function parameters after the methacholine test. However, there were significant correlations between the bronchial reactivity and the PEF, $FEV_1$, DLCO. Conclusion: There was weak significant negative correlation between the bronchial reactivity and the bronchial sensitivity, and the bronchial reactivity closely reflected the severity of the asthma. Accordingly, measuring both the bronchial sensitivity and the bronchial reactivity can be of assistance in assessing of the ongoing disease severity and in monitoring the effect of therapy.

• Journal of The Korean Ophthalmological Society
• /
• v.59 no.12
• /
• pp.1152-1159
• /
• 2018

Purpose: We prospectively investigated clinical changes and long-term outcomes after administration of the drugs recommended by the Age-Related Eye Disease Study-2 to patients with intermediate age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Methods: This prospective multicenter study enrolled 79 eyes of 55 patients taking lutein and zeaxanthin. The primary endpoint was contrast sensitivity; this was checked every 12 months for a total of 36 months after treatment commenced. The secondary endpoints were visual acuity, central macular thickness, and drusen volume; the latter two parameters were assessed using spectral domain optical coherence tomography. Results: The mean patient age was $72.46{\pm}7.16years$. Contrast sensitivity gradually improved at both three and six cycles per degree. The corrected visual acuity was $0.13{\pm}0.14logMAR$ and did not change significantly over the 36 months. Neither the central macular thickness nor drusen volume changed significantly. Conclusions: Contrast sensitivity markedly improved after treatment, improving vision and patient satisfaction. Visual acuity, central retinal thickness, and drusen volume did not deteriorate. Therefore, progression of AMD and visual function deterioration were halted.

• The Journal of Fisheries Business Administration
• /
• v.46 no.2
• /
• pp.59-74
• /
• 2015

This study aims to estimate optimal harvesting production, fishing efforts, and stock levels of yellow croaker caught by the offshore Stow Net and the offshore Gill Net fisheries using the current value Hamiltonian method and the surplus production model. As analyzing processes, firstly, this study uses the Gavaris general linear model to estimate standardized fishing efforts of yellow croaker caught by the above multiple fisheries. Secondly, this study applies the Clarke Yoshimoto Pooley(CY&P) model among the various exponential growth models to estimate intrinsic growth rate(r), environmental carrying capacity(K), and catchability coefficient(q) of yellow croaker which inhabits in offshore area of Korea. Thirdly, the study determines optimal harvesting production, fishing efforts, and stock levels of yellow croaker using the current value Hamiltonian method which is including average landing price of yellow croaker, average unit cost of fishing efforts, and social discount rate based on standard of the Korean Development Institute. Finally, this study tries sensitivity analysis to understand changes in optimal harvesting production, fishing efforts, and stock levels of yellow croaker caused by changes in economic and biological parameters. As results drawn by the current value Hamiltonian model, the optimal harvesting production, fishing efforts, and stock levels of yellow croaker caught by the multiple fisheries were estimated as 19,173 ton, 101,644 horse power, and 146,144 ton respectively. In addition, as results of sensitivity analysis, firstly, if the social discount rate and the average landing price of yellow croaker continuously increase, the optimal harvesting production of yellow croaker increases at decreasing rate and then finally slightly decreases due to decreases in stock levels of yellow croaker. Secondly, if the average unit cost of fishing efforts continuously increases, the optimal fishing efforts of the multiple fisheries decreases, but the optimal stock level of yellow croaker increases. The optimal harvest starts climbing and then continuously decreases due to increases in the average unit cost. Thirdly, when the intrinsic growth rate of yellow croaker increases, the optimal harvest, fishing efforts, and stock level all continuously increase. In conclusion, this study suggests that the optimal harvesting production and fishing efforts were much less than actual harvesting production(35,279 ton) and estimated standardized fishing efforts(175,512 horse power) in 2013. This result implies that yellow croaker has been overfished due to excessive fishing efforts. Efficient management and conservative policy on stock of yellow croaker need to be urgently implemented.