• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.249-256
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• 1999

A total of 198 sera from stray cats was assayed against Toxoplasma gondii antigen by western blot. Out of 198 sera assayed, 26 sera (13.1％) showed typical blot patterns against T gondii. When spotted by ELISA absorbance and indirect latex agglutination lest (ILAT) titer, all 26 cases were distributed over the cut-off value of ELISA whereas 24 cases (92.3％) were in the positive range of 1:32 or higher and 2 cases in negative range by ILAT. Among western blot negative 172 sera, 162 cases were negative in both ILAT and ELISA while 10 cases were reactive falsely such that three cases were ILAT positive with 1:32 titer and 9 cases were ELISA positive (2 cases overlapped). These 10 cases reacted peculiarly without typical binding pattern in Western blot. Sandwich-ELISA was performed with monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) of Tg563 (30 kDa, SAG 1), Tg505 (22 kDa, SAG2), Tg605 (43 kDa, SAG3), Tg556 (28 kDa, GRA2), Tg737 (32 kDa, GRA6). Tg695 (66 kDa, ROP2), Tg786 (42 kDa, ROP6), and Tg621 (32 kDa, anonymous but cytosolic) clone, respectively. All western blot-positive cases were in the positive range and negative cases in the negative range clearly. Among the 10 false reactive cases, 3 cases were in the positive range with one or more mAbs. All mAbs used in this study were confirmed to be specific to T. gondii infection as a standardized sandwich-ELISA to differentiate it from other pathogens.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.332-341
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• 2013

H-shaped amphiphilic pentablock copolymers $(PSt)_2-b-PCL-b-PEO-b-PCL-b-(PSt)_2$ was synthesized via chemoenzymatic method by combining enzyme-catalyzed ring-opening polymerization (eROP) of ${\varepsilon}$-caprolactone (${\varepsilon}$-CL) and atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) of styrene. By this process, we obtained copolymers with controlled molecular weight and low polydispersity. The structure and composition of the obtained copolymers were characterized by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), gel permeation chromatography (GPC) and infrared spectroscopy analysis (IR). The crystallization behavior of the copolymers was analyzed by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The crystallization behavior of the H-shaped block copolymers demonstrated a PCL dominate crystallization. The self-assembly behavior of the copolymers was investigated in aqueous media. The hydrodynamic diameters of the copolymer micelles in aqueous solution were measured by dynamic light scattering (DLS). The morphology of the copolymer micelles was observed by atomic force microscopy (AFM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The hydrodynamic diameters of spherical micelles declined gradually with the increase of the hydrophobic chain lengths of the copolymers. The critical micelle concentration (CMC) values were determined from fluorescence emission, and it was found that the CMCs decreased with an increase of PSt hydrophobic block lengths.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.63 no.2
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• pp.56-62
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• 2020

Background: Red blood cell (RBC) transfusion improves cardiorespiratory status of preterm infants by increasing circulating hemoglobin, improving tissue oxygenation, and reducing cardiac output. However, RBC transfusion itself has also been suggested to negatively affect short-term outcomes such as intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH), bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), and necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) in premature infants. Purpose: This study aimed to analyze the relationship between RBC transfusion and short-term outcomes in very low birth weight (VLBW) infants (birth weight, <1,500 g). Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of VLBW infants admitted to the Soonchunhyang University Bucheon Hospital between October 2010 and December 2017. Infants who died during hospitalization were excluded. The infants were divided into 2 groups according to RBC transfusion status. We investigated the relationship between RBC transfusion and short-term outcomes including BPD, ROP, NEC, and IVH. Results: Of the 250 enrolled VLBW infants, 109 (43.6%) underwent transfusion. Univariate analysis revealed that all short-term outcomes except early-onset sepsis and patent ductus arteriosus were associated with RBC transfusion. In multivariate analysis adjusted for gestational age, birth weight and Apgar score at 1 minute, RBC transfusion was significantly correlated with BPD (odds ratio [OR], 5.42; P<0.001) and NEC (OR, 3.40; P= 0.009). Conclusion: RBC transfusion is significantly associated with adverse clinical outcomes such as NEC and BPD in VLBW infants. Careful consideration of the patient's clinical condition and appropriate guidelines is required before administration of RBC transfusions.

• Macromolecular Research
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.100-106
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• 2001

Several star-polymers with aliphatic cores were synthesized by ring opening polymerization (ROP) of $\xi$-caprolactone using stannous 2-ethyl-hexanoate as a catalyst. The star-polymers were thoroughly analyzed by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry, temperature gradient interaction chromatography and $\^$13/C-NMR to obtain detailed information of the molecular structure. The imperfection of the star-polymers seemed to be originated from restricted participation of sterically hindered hydroxyl groups of initiator. The synthesized star-polymers had narrow molecular weight distributions. Various reaction conditions to control the imperfection were studied.

• Economic Analysis
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.1-53
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• 2019

This paper examines monetary policy quantitatively in a two-agent and small-scale New-Keynesian economy with debt-constrained households that cannot smooth their consumption intertemporally and frictionlessly since highly indebted households are not allowed to borrow above a certain debt ceiling in incomplete financial markets without additional risk premiums due to information asymmetry between savers and borrowers. We find that, in the event of cost shocks, the asymmetric responses of borrowing households without, and saving households with, dividend incomes lead to different labor supplies and consumptions over heterogeneous households, and eventually to an extension of the monetary policy transmission channels. The income effect and low elasticity of the labor supply play key roles in such asymmetric responses over heterogeneous households. We also find that the social welfare in a flexible inflation targeting (FIT) monetary policy, in which both the inflation gap and the output gap are considered in an integrated manner when policy-making, is similar to that of the Ramsey optimal monetary policy (ROP), in which the shares of debt-constrained households, as well as all economic states, including both the inflation gap and output gap, are considered comprehensively for policy-making, and that it is greater than that of simple inflation targeting (SIT) monetary policy, in which only the inflation gap is considered mechanically for policy-making. Such social welfare implies that a FIT policy may still work even in an economy with a sizable number of debt-constrained households. Further, the responses of cost shocks to consumption and labor supply are dying out more slowly under FIT and ROP policies than under an SIT policy.

• IEIE Transactions on Smart Processing and Computing
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.107-116
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• 2016

Premature babies of less than 37 weeks gestation might require oxygen therapy as an integral part of treatment and respiratory support. Because of their under-developed lungs, these so-called "preemies" might contract respiratory distress syndrome (RDS). To treat RDS, neonatal oxygen therapy is administered, where controlled oxygen gas is measured as a fraction of inspired oxygen ($FiO_2$). However, exposure to high oxygen content during long treatment could cause oxygen intoxication, which might cause permanent blindness due to retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), whereas insufficient oxygen exposure could cause severe hypoxia. A doctor would use oxygen saturation ($SpO_2$) data and prescribe a dose of $FiO_2$ to maintain $SpO_2$ within a suitable range. One objective is to maintain $SpO_2$ within the acceptable range using $FiO_2$ that is as low as possible. Adjustment of $FiO_2$ would normally be done by nurses every 15 to 30 minutes, which might not be safe in many situations. An error in $FiO_2$ adjustment during a manual procedure could be as large as +/- 2.5%. This paper presents a system that can determine an $FiO_2$ value suitable to the current $SpO_2$ and that automatically adjusts $FiO_2$ with an error clearance of +/- 0.25%.

• Journal of Korean Institute of Industrial Engineers
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.49-56
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• 2008

Reliability has been considered as an important design measure in various industrial systems. We discuss a reliability optimization problem with component choices (ROP-CC) subject to a budget constraint. This problem has been known as a NP-hard problem in the reliability design fields. Several researchers have been working to find the optimal solution through different heuristic methods. In this paper, we describe our development of simulated annealing (SA) and tabu search (TS) algorithms and a reoptimization procedure of the two algorithms for solving the problem. Experimental results for some examples are shown to evaluate the performance of these methods. We compare the results with the solutions of a previous study which used ant system (AS) and the global optimal solution of each example obtained through an optimization package, CPLEX 9.1. The computational results indicate that the developed algorithms outperform the previous results.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.41 no.8
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• pp.771-780
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• 2018

Angiogenesis must be precisely controlled because uncontrolled angiogenesis is involved in aggravation of disease symptoms. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)/VEGF receptor 2 (VEGFR-2) signaling is a key pathway leading to angiogenic responses in vascular endothelial cells (ECs). Therefore, targeting VEGF/VEGFR-2 signaling may be effective at modulating angiogenesis to alleviate various disease symptoms. Oleanolic acid was verified as a VEGFR-2 binding chemical from anticancer herbs with similar binding affinity as a reference drug in the Protein Data Bank (PDB) entry 3CJG of model A coordination. Oleanolic acid effectively inhibited VEGF-induced VEGFR-2 activation and angiogenesis in HUVECs without cytotoxicity. We also verified that oleanolic acid inhibits in vivo angiogenesis during the development and the course of the retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) model in the mouse retina. Taken together, our results suggest a potential therapeutic benefit of oleanolic acid for inhibiting angiogenesis in proangiogenic diseases, including retinopathy.

• Journal of the Korea Society of Computer and Information
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.35-41
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• 2014

In this paper, we proposed the implementation of software-based 2D BitBLT engine on the pSOS operating system and the operation of the BitBLT engine on patient monitoring device was verified. To verify the proposed method on the patient monitoring device, we designed prototype PCB board, and verified the operation. We designed the motherboard by using ARM9-based CPU. Because hardware-based BitBLT module was replaced with software-based one, CPU load problem was weighted. To solve this problem, w changed 400Mhz processor instead of 200Mhz processor. We implemented 2D BitBLT kernel module as a device driver which is one of the key elements of a graphics controller GUI in patient monitoring device.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.25 no.9
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• pp.1314-1320
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• 2004

The adsorption and configuration of CO molecules adsorbed on W (110) and W (100) surfaces have been calculated by the atomic superposition and electron delocalization molecular orbital (ASED-MO) method. Referred to as the ASED-MO method, it has been used in the present study to calculate the geometries, binding energies, vibrational frequencies, orbital energies, reduced overlap population (ROP), and charges. From these results adsorption properties of ${\alpha}$-state and ${\beta}$-state were deduced. The calculated binding energies are in good agreement with the experimental result. On the W (110), the calculated average binding energies are 2.56 eV for the end-on configuration and 3.20 eV for the lying-down configuration. Calculated vibrational frequency is 1927 $cm^{-1}$ at a 1-fold site and 1161 $cm^{-1}$ at a long-bridge (2) site. These results are in reasonable agreement with experimental values. On the W(100) surface, calculated average binding energies of the end-on and the lying-down are 2.54 eV and 4.02 eV respectively. The differences for binding energy and configuration on the surfaces are explained on the basis of surface-atom coordination and atom-atom spacing. In the favored lyingdown CO configuration on the W(110) and W(100) surfaces, 4 ${\sigma}$ and 1 ${\pi}$ donation interactions, coupled with the familiar 5 ${\sigma}$ donation to the surfaces and back-donations to the CO 2 ${\pi}^{\ast}$ orbital, are responsible for adsorption to the surface.