• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.1-12
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• 2023

We analyzed the distribution area of debris slopes in Mudeungsan (Mt. Mudeung) National Park by comparing aerial photos of the past (1966) and the present (2017) and identified the vegetation characteristics that affect the change in the area of the debris slopes by investigating the vegetation status of the debris slopes and the surrounding areas. The area of debris slopes in Mt. Mudeung appears to have been reduced to a quarter of what it used to be. Debris slopes here have decreased at an average rate of 2.3 ha/yr over 51 years by vegetation covers. Notably, most of the small-area debris slopes in the low-inclination slopes disappeared due to active vegetation coverage. However, there are still west-facing, south-west-facing, south-facing, and large-area debris slopes remaining because the sun's radiant heat rapidly raises the surface temperature of rock blocks and dries moisture, making tree growth unfavorable. Because of these locational characteristics, the small-scale vegetation in the middle of Deoksan Stony Slope, which is the broadest area, showed distinct characteristics from the adjacent forest areas. Sunny places and tree species with excellent drying resistance were observed frequently in Deoksan Stony Slope. However, tree species with high hygropreference that grow well in valleys with good soil conditions also prevailed. In some of these places, the soil layer has been well developed due to the accumulation of fine materials and organic matter between the crevices of the rock blocks, which is likely to have provided favorable conditions for such tree species to settle and grow. At the top of Mt. Mudeung, on the other hand, the forest covered the debris slopes, where Mongolian oaks (Quercus mongolica) and royal azaleas (Rhododendron schlippenbachii), which typically grow in the highlands, prevailed. This area was considered favorable for the development of vegetation for the highlands because the density of rock blocks was lower than in Deoksan Stony Slope, and the soil was exposed. Moreover, ash trees (Fraxinus rhynchophylla) and Korean maple trees (Acer pseudosieboldianum) that commonly appear in the valley areas were dominant here. It is probably due to the increased moisture content in the soil, which resulted from creating a depressive landform with a concave shape that is easy to collect rainwater as rock blocks in some areas fell and piled up in the lower region. In conclusion, the area, density of the rock blocks, and distribution pattern of rock block slopes would have affected the vegetation development and species composition in the debris slope landform.

• Journal of the Korean Orthopaedic Association
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• v.52 no.1
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• pp.33-39
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• 2017

Purpose: Surgical risks associated with the resection of osteochondroma around the proximal tibia and fibula, as well as the proximal humerus have been well established; however, the clinical presentation and optimal surgical approach for osteochondroma around the lesser trochanter have not been fully addressed. Materials and Methods: Thirteen patients with osteochondroma around the lesser trochanter underwent resection. We described the chief complaint, duration of symptom, location of the tumor, mass protrusion pattern on axial computed tomography image, tumor volume, surgical approach, iliopsoas tendon integrity after resection, and complication according to the each surgical approach. Results: Pain on walking or exercise was the chief complaint in 7 patients, and numbness and radiating pain in 6 patients. The average duration of symptom was 19 months (2-72 months). The surgical approach for 5 tumors that protruded postero-laterally was postero-lateral (n=3), anterior (n=1), and medial (n=1). All 4 patients with antero-medially protruding tumor underwent the anterior approach. Two patients with both antero-medially and postero-laterally protruding tumor received the medial and anterior approach, respectively. Two patients who underwent medial approach for postero-laterally protruded tumor showed extensive cortical defect after resection. One patient who received the anterior approach to resect a large postero-laterally protruded tumor developed complete sciatic nerve palsy, which was recovered 6 months after re-exploration. Conclusion: For large osteochondromas with posterior protrusion, we should not underestimate the probability of sciatic nerve compression. When regarding the optimal surgical approach, the medial one is best suitable for small tumors, while the anterior approach is good for antero-medial or femur neck tumor. For postero-laterally protruded large tumors, posterior approach may minimize the risk of sciatic nerve palsy.

• Journal of Dental Rehabilitation and Applied Science
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.189-195
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• 2022

Purpose: For orthodontic bracket bonding, light curing resin cement is widely used because the process is convenient, and it can be polymerized at the desired time. This study compared the difference of bonding strength of orthodontic resin cement according to storage condition. Materials and Methods: After acid etching the bovine enamel surface with 37% phosphoric acid, 15 orthodontic brackets for mandible incisors were bonded with Ortho Connect and Orthomite LC according to following three conditions; 1) Immediate after 4℃ refrigeration for 3 months (IR), 2) One day room temperature after 4℃ refrigeration for 3 months (OR), 3) Room temperature for 3 months (RT). The shear bond strength was measured with a universal material tester and failure pattern of the specimen was observed. Two-way ANOVA and One-way ANOVA were used at the 95% significance level. Results: Ortho Connect that was applied immediately after refrigeration showed the maximum shear bond strength. Orthomite that was applied immediately after refrigeration showed the lowest shear bond strength, and the group stored at room temperature for three months showed the highest shear bond strength, and the difference between the two groups was significant. Conclusion: Ortho Connect can be used without worrying about bond strength even if it is used immediately after refrigeration, but Orthomite should be kept at room temperature sufficiently after refrigeration.

• Korean Journal of Heritage: History & Science
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• v.56 no.3
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• pp.138-156
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• 2023

Some of the metal cultural heritage that make up a considerable proportion of Korea's cultural heritage have been installed and displayed outdoors due to their own functions, roles, and scale. Therefore, more diverse and complex damages can occur outdoors than they are in a stable environment. Therefore, it is necessary to combine accurate diagnosis and systematic survey methods in order to utilize basic data obtained from research results as data for the long-term and continuous conservation management as well as to do the research to diagnose the conservation status of outdoor cultural heritage. The clepsydra(hereinafter referred to as Jagyeongnu) of Changgyeonggung Palace, the National Treasure has been installed and displayed outdoors since it was manufactured. Though regular conservation and maintenance of the Jagyeongnu have been carried out, damage still occurred. Therefore, the scientific research on Jagyeongnu to diagnose the state of conservation was conducted prior to the full-scale conservation treatment. First, the state of conservation was investigated with an examination of basic data, macroscopic inspections and past records of repair history according to the purpose of the research. More detailed examinations were also conducted through the 3D scan, surface pattern investigation, and color difference analysis, and the analysis on materials and contaminants were conducted through P-XRF, FT-IR, and Py-GC/MS. The scientific research reveals that squalane and silicone oil have been applied in the past for conservation treatment and directly exposed to outdoor environmental factors, which caused damage to Jagyeongnu and contaminants such as dust adhered thickly to its surface, accelerating severe damage. A greater incidence of damage was found around the part with relatively high exposure effect, which corresponded with the tendency identified by grouping color difference data. As a result of integrating various research methodologies to diagnose the state of conservation and secure basic data, the causes and types of damage were identified. Furthermore, the process of obtaining digital data to be utilized in various ways, and the color difference analysis presenting visible damage as scientific data and identifying the tendency of damage patterns were confirmed to have been effective.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.149-160
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• 2024

Dextran is a glucose homo-polysaccharide with a predominantly α-1,6 glycosidic linkage of microbial source and is known to be produced primarily by lactic acid bacteria. However, it can also be obtained through the dextran dextrinase of acetic acid bacteria (Gluconobacter oxydans). The dextrin-based dextran was obtained from rice starch using G. oxydans fermentation of rice hydrolysate, and its properties were studied. Both dextrin- and rice hydrolysate-added media maintained the OD value of 6 after 20 h of incubation with acetic acid bacteria, and the gel permeation chromatography (GPC) analysis of the supernatant after 72 h of incubation confirmed that a polymeric material with DP of 480 and 405, which was different from the composition of the substrate in the medium, was produced. The glucose linkage pattern of the polysaccharide was confirmed using the proton nuclear magnetic resonance (¹H-NMR) and the increased α-1,4:α-1,6 bond ratio from 0.23 and 0.13 to 1:2.37 and 1:4.4, respectively, indicating that the main bonds were converted to α-1,6 bonds. The treatment of dextrin with a rat-derived alpha-glucosidase digestive enzyme resulted in a slow release of glucose, suggesting that rice hydrolysate can be converted to dextran using acetic acid bacteria with glycosyltransferase activity to produce high-value bio-materials with slowly digestible properties.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.83 no.6
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• pp.1327-1341
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• 2022

Purpose To evaluate the pattern of use and the perception of digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) among Korean breast radiologists. Materials and Methods From March 22 to 29, 2021, an online survey comprising 27 questions was sent to members of the Korean Society of Breast Imaging. Questions related to practice characteristics, utilization and perception of DBT, and research interests. Results were analyzed based on factors using logistic regression. Results Overall, 120 of 257 members responded to the survey (response rate, 46.7%), 67 (55.8%) of whom reported using DBT. The overall satisfaction with DBT was 3.31 (1-5 scale). The most-cited DBT advantages were decreased recall rate (55.8%), increased lesion conspicuity (48.3%), and increased cancer detection (45.8%). The most-cited DBT disadvantages were extra cost for patients (46.7%), insufficient calcification characterization (43.3%), insufficient improvement in diagnostic performance (39.2%), and radiation dose (35.8%). Radiologists reported increased storage requirements and interpretation time for barriers to implementing DBT. Conclusion Further improvement of DBT techniques reflecting feedback from the user's perspective will help increase the acceptance of DBT in Korea.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.68 no.4
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• pp.276-284
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• 2023

Nitrogen is a major and essential macronutrient for plant growth and development. However, excessive nitrogen application can lead to ecological pollution or greenhouse gas emissions, consequently resulting in climate change. In this study, we used 153 genetic resources of rice to evaluate the effects of the levels of nitrogen application on grain yield and yield-related traits. Significant differences were noted in the yield and yield-related traits of genetic resources between two nitrogen application levels, namely, 4.5 kg/10a (NN: normal nitrogen condition) and 9.0 kg/10a (LN: low-nitrogen condition). Among the tested traits, days to heading (DTH), clum length (CL), grain yield per plant (GYP), number of panicles per plant (NPP), and number of spikelets per panicle (NSP) decreased by 1.8 to 17.9% when the nitrogen application levels decreased from NN to LN. The 1,000-grain weight (TWG) and percentage of ripened grain (PRG) increased by 2.6 to 11.2% under these conditions. Based on nitrogen application levels, two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) demonstrated significant differences in GYP, NPP, and PRG but not in NSP and TGW. NPP exhibited negative correlations with NSP (-0.44) and TGW (-0.44), and TGW displayed a negative correlation with PRG (-0.34), whereas, GYP exhibited a positive correlation with PRG (0.37) and NSP (0.38). A similar pattern was recorded under the LN condition. NPP, TGW, and PRG were clustered as PA (principle axis) 1 under the LN condition by factor analysis. NSP and GYP were clustered as PA (principle axis) 2. These results demonstrated NPP and NSP as the primary factors contributing to the decrease in grain yield under LN conditions. In conclusion, we selected eight genetic resources that exhibited higher GYP under both NN and LN conditions with higher NPP or NSP. These genetic resources can be considered valuable breeding materials for the adaptation of plants to nitrogen deficiency.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.84 no.5
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• pp.1066-1079
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• 2023

Purpose Distinguishing intradural extramedullary (IDEM) spinal ependymoma from myxopapillary ependymoma is challenging due to the location of IDEM spinal ependymoma. This study aimed to investigate the utility of clinical and MR imaging features for differentiating between IDEM spinal and myxopapillary ependymomas. Materials and Methods We compared tumor size, longitudinal/axial location, enhancement degree/pattern, tumor margin, signal intensity (SI) of the tumor on T2-weighted images and T1-weighted image (T1WI), increased cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) SI caudal to the tumor on T1WI, and CSF dissemination of pathologically confirmed 12 IDEM spinal and 10 myxopapillary ependymomas. Furthermore, classification and regression tree (CART) was performed to identify the clinical and MR features for differentiating between IDEM spinal and myxopapillary ependymomas. Results Patients with IDEM spinal ependymomas were older than those with myxopapillary ependymomas (48 years vs. 29.5 years, p < 0.05). A high SI of the tumor on T1W1 was more frequently observed in IDEM spinal ependymomas than in myxopapillary ependymomas (p = 0.02). Conversely, myxopapillary ependymomas show CSF dissemination. Increased CSF SI caudal to the tumor on T1WI was observed more frequently in myxopapillary ependymomas than in IDEM spinal ependymomas (p < 0.05). Dissemination to the CSF space and increased CSF SI caudal to the tumor on T1WI were the most important variables in CART analysis. Conclusion Clinical and radiological variables may help differentiate between IDEM spinal and myxopapillary ependymomas.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.84 no.5
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• pp.1094-1109
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• 2023

Purpose To investigate whether CT-based tumor regression grade (ctTRG) can be used to predict the response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) in colon cancer. Materials and Methods A total of 53 patients were enrolled. Two radiologists independently assessed the ctTRG using the length, thickness, layer pattern, and luminal and extraluminal appearance of the tumor. Changes in tumor volume were also analyzed using the 3D Slicer software. We evaluated the association between pathologic TRG (pTRG) and ctTRG. Patients with Rödel's TRG of 2, 3, or 4 were classified as responders. In terms of predicting responder and pathologic complete remission (pCR), receiver operating characteristic was compared between ctTRG and tumor volume change. Results There was a moderate correlation between ctTRG and pTRG (ρ = -0.540, p < 0.001), and the interobserver agreement was substantial (weighted κ = 0.672). In the prediction of responder, there was no significant difference between ctTRG and volumetry (Az = 0.749, criterion: ctTRG ≤ 3 for ctTRG, Az = 0.794, criterion: ≤ -27.1% for volume, p = 0.53). Moreover, there was no significant difference between the two methods in predicting pCR (p = 0.447). Conclusion ctTRG might predict the response to NAC in colon cancer. The diagnostic performance of ctTRG was comparable to that of CT volumetry.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.52 no.5
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• pp.485-496
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• 2002

Background : The NF-${\kappa}B$ transcription factors control various biological processes including the immune response, acute phase reaction and cell cycle regulation. NF-${\kappa}B$ complexes are retained in the cytoplasm in the basal state and various stimuli cause a translocation of the NF-${\kappa}B$ complexes into the nucleus where they bind to the ${\kappa}B$ elements and regulate the transcription of the target genes. Recent reports also suggest that NF-${\kappa}B$ proteins are involved in oncogenesis, tumor growth and metastasis. High expression of NF-${\kappa}B$ expression was reported in many cancer cell lines and tissues. The constitutive activation of NF-${\kappa}B$ was also reported in several cancer cell lines supporting its role in cancer development and survival. The anti-apoptotic action of NF-${\kappa}B$ is important for cancer survival. NF-${\kappa}B$ also controls the expression of several proteins that are important for cellular adhesion (ICAM-1, VCAM-1) suggesting a role in cancer metastasis. In lung cancer, high expression levels of the NF-${\kappa}B$ subunit p50 and c-Rel were reported. In fact, high expression does not mean a high activity, and the activation pattern of NF-${\kappa}B$ in lung cancer has not been reported. Materials and Methods : In this study, the NF-${\kappa}B$ nuclear binding activity in the basal and TNF-${\alpha}$ stimulated states were exmined in various lung cancer cell lines and compared with the normal bronchial epithelial cell line. Twelve lung cancer cell lines including the non-small cell and small cell lung cancer cell lines (A549, NCI-H358, NCI-H441, NCI-H552, NCI-H2009, NCI-H460, NCI-H1229, NCI-H1703, NCI-H157, NCI-H187, NCI-H417, NCI-H526) and BEAS-2B bronchial epithelial cell line were used. To evaluate the NF-${\kappa}B$ expression and DNA binding activity, western blot analysis and an electrophoretic mobility shift assay with the nuclear protein extracts. Results : The basal expressions of the p65 and p50 subunits were observed in the BEAS-2B cell line and all lung cancer cell lines except for NCI-H358 and NCI-H460. The expression levels of p65 and p50 were increased 30 minutes after stimulation with TNF-${\alpha}$ in BEAS-2B and in 10 lung cancer cell lines. In the NCI-H358 and NCI-H460 cell lines, p65 expression was not observed in the basal and stimulated states and the two p50 related protein levels were higher after stimulation with TNF-${\alpha}$ These new proteins were smaller than p50 and are thought to be variants of p50. In the basal state, NF-${\kappa}B$ was nearly activated in the BEAS-2B and all lung cancer cell lines. The DNA binding activity of the NF-${\kappa}B$ complexes was markedly higher after stimulation with TNF-${\alpha}$ In the BEAS-2B and all lung cancer cell line except for NCI-H358 and NCI-H460, the activated NF-${\kappa}B$ complex was a p65/p50 heterodimer. In the NCI-H358 and NCI-H460 lung cancer cell lines, the NF-${\kappa}B$ complex was variant of a p50/p50 homodimer. Conclusion : The NF-${\kappa}B$ activation pattern in the lung cancer cell lines and the normal bronchial epithelial cell lines was similar except for the activation of a variant of the p50/p50 homodimer in some lung cancer cell linse.