• Title/Summary/Keyword: Sequential analysis.

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Isolation of Bombesin-Like Substances from the Skin of the Frog, Bombina orientalis: Its Molecular Heterogeneity and Biological Activity (한국에 서식하는 무당개구리의 피부에서 추출된 Bombesin 유사물질의 분자적 이질성 및 생물학적 활성)

  • Park, Hyoung-Jin;Lee, Yun-Lyul;Kwon, Hyeok-Yil;Shin, Won-Im;Suh, Sang-Won
    • The Korean Journal of Physiology
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    • v.23 no.1
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    • pp.79-87
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    • 1989
  • Molecular property as well as biological activities of bombesin-like substance (BBS-LS) isolated from the skin of B. orientalis in Korea was compared with those of synthetic BBS-14. BBS-LS in the crude extract was applied on a Sephadex G-50, superfine column $(1.6{\times}112\;cm)$. On chromatogram, the first peak (3.5% of BBS-LS) was found ahead of synthetic GRP-27, and the second peak (rest) between synthetic GRP-27 and synthetic BBS-14. The main form of BBS-LS was successfully purified by using a column of alkaline alumina followed by sequential gel-filtrations on a column of Sephadex G-10, fine and a column of Sephadex G-50, superfine. Chromatographic analysis of the purified BBS-LS using a column of Sephadex G-50, superfine and reversed phase HPLC revealed that the main form of BBS-LS in the skin of B. orientalis could be distinctly different from either BBS-14 or GRP-27 in molecular size. The purified BBS-LS exerted biological activities quite identical to those of synthetic BBS-14. The results of the present investigation indicate that the skin of B. orientalis contains BBS-LS composed of two distinct forms. The main form of BBS-LS purified in the present study is heterogenous to both synthetic BBS-14 and GRP-27 in molecular size but identical to BBS in biological activities.

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A Study on the Chemical Index of Alteration of Igneous Rocks (화성암의 화학적 변질지수에 관한 연구)

  • Choi, Eun-Kyeong;Kim, Sung-Wook;Kim, In-Soo;Lee, Kyu-Hwan
    • Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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    • v.28 no.5
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    • pp.41-54
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    • 2012
  • The weathering process of rocks leads to the reduction of geotechnical bearing capacity. The weathering of granite is frequently used to refer to the degradation of geotechnical property in the design and construction of infra-structure. In this study, the range of values of CIA (chemical index of alteration) and the change of mineral compositions by weathering have been analysed with igneous rock, which covers 45.5% in South Korean territory. Several weathering indices were studied for various rocks found in Korea and significant relationships between different indices were delineated via statistical analysis. The applicability of CIA was found to be the most significant among all weathering indicies. The composition of illite, the secondary weathering residual, generally increases for the felsic rock, and swelling clay material is not included. The weathering of felsic rock will follow a sequential process, starting from bed rock, illite, and chlorite to kaoline. The mafic rock will show weathering process, from bed rock, smectite, and chlorite to kaoline. The intermediate rocks such as andesite and tuff will show similar weathering procedure and the composition of kaoline, chlorite, and smectite tends to increase more than that of illite when the mafic rock is dominated. This means the increase of rock material which has high CEC (cation exchange capacity) during secondary weathering process. However, the characteristics of a specific rock cannot be completely analyzed using merely CIA, since it is exclusively based on chemical composition and corresponding alteration. The CIA can be used to quantify the weathering process in a limited range, and further considerations such as rock composition, strength characteristics will be required to configure the comprehensive weathering impact on any specific region.

A Study on the Characteristics of Jobs in Academic Libraries According to Different Generations (대학도서관 업무의 시대별 변천에 따른 특성 연구)

  • Cho, Chul-Hyun
    • Journal of the Korean BIBLIA Society for library and Information Science
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    • v.26 no.1
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    • pp.135-170
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    • 2015
  • This study aimed to investigate the transition of academic libraries' jobs by developing a model based on a shift of library generations including Library 1.0, Library 2.0, and Library 3.0 corresponding to the shift of web generations and to explore generational characteristics of library duties as well. The research used three phases of procedure: literature review about different library generations; job analyses for academic libraries in South Korea and the U.S.A.; the Delphi technique in tree sequential order. The research findings were as follows. First of all, there were 170 duties that continued from Library 1.0 to Library 3.0. There were 58 duties which continued from Library 2.0 to Library 3.0 whereas three duties that continued from Library 1.0 to Library 2.0. In addition, three distinctive duties existed only in Library 1.0 whereas one unique duty was only in Library 2.0. Library 3.0 generated 25 new duties. Secondly, considering general characteristics which cover specific parts of individual duties, there was a significant increase in importance, difficulty, and frequency of library administration throughout the three generations. In terms of importance, difficulty, and frequency of collection development and management, there was a significant increase only from Library 2.0 to Library 3.0. Considering information organization, there was a significant decrease in importance from Library 1.0 to Library 2.0. In addition, there was a significant decrease in frequency and there was no significant difference in difficulty throughout the three generations. In the case of information service, while there was a significant increase in importance among three generations, there was a significant increase in difficulty only from Library 1.0 to Library 2.0. However, there was no generational difference in frequency. With the respect of information system development and management, there was a significant increase in importance and frequency throughout the three generations, but there was no significant difference in difficulty among three generations.

Learning Curve of a Laparoscopy Assisted Distal Gastrectomy for a Surgeon Expert in Performing a Conventional Open Gastrectomy (개복 위절제술에 경험이 풍부한 술자에 의한 복강경 보조하 원위부 위절제술의 Learning Curve)

  • Kim, Ji-Hoon;Jung, Young-Soo;Jung, Oh;Lim, Jeong-Taek;Yook, Jeong-Hwan;Oh, Sung-Tae;Park, Kun-Choon;Kim, Byung-Sik
    • Journal of Gastric Cancer
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    • v.6 no.3
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    • pp.167-172
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    • 2006
  • Purpose: The laparoscopy assisted gastrectomy has been increasingly reported as the treatment of choice for early gastric cancer. However, expert surgeons, who have performed a conventional open gastrectomy for a long time, tend to have a negative attitude toward laparoscopic procedures. The aim of this study was to determine the learning curve of a laparoscopy assisted distal gastrectomy (LADG) for a surgeon expert in performing an open gastrectomy and to analyze the factors that have an effect on a LADG. Materials and Methods: Between April 2005 and March 2006, 62 patients underwent a LADG with D1+beta lymph-node dissection. The 62 patients were divided into 10 sequential groups with 6 cases in each group (the last group was 8 cases), and the time required to reach the plateau of the learning curve was determined by examining the average operative times of these 10 groups. Other factors, such as sex, BMI, complications, transfusion requirements, the number of retrieved lymph nodes, and change of postoperative hemoglobin level, were also analyzed. Results: With the $5^{th}$ group (after 30 cases), the operative time reached a plateau (average: 170 min/operation). The differences between before the $30^{th}$ case and after the $31^{st}$ case with respect to changes in the postoperative hemoglobin level, the number of retrieved lymph nodes, the transfusion requirements, and the complications rate were not significant. Conclusion: According to an analysis of the operative time, experience with 30 LADGs in patients with early gastric cancer is the point at which the plateau of the learning curve (7 months) is reached. Abundant experience with a conventional open gastrectomy and a well-organized laparoscopic surgery team are important factors in overcoming the learning curie earlier.

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Tectonic Movement in the Korean Peninsula (II): A Geomorphological Interpretation of the Spatial Distribution of Earthquakes (한반도의 지반운동 (II): 한반도 지진분포의 지형학적 해석)

  • Park, Soo-Jin
    • Journal of the Korean Geographical Society
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    • v.42 no.4
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    • pp.488-505
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    • 2007
  • The purposes of this research are twofold; 1) to verify spatial differences of tectonic movement using the spatial distribution of earthquakes, and 2) to infer mechanisms that generate spatial accumulation patterns of earthquakes in the Korean Peninsula. The first part of this sequential paper (Park, 2007) argues that the Korean Peninsula consists of four geostructural regions in which tectonic deformation and consequent geomorphological development patterns are different from each other Since this conclusion has been made by terrain analyses alone, it is necessary to verify this suggestion using other independent geophysical data. Because earthquakes are results of movement and deformation of land masses moving in different directions, the distribution of earthquake epicenters may be used to identify the direction and rates of land mass movement. This paper first analysed the spatial distribution of earthquakes using spatial statistics, and then results were compared with the spatial arrangement of geostructural regions. The spatial distribution of earthquakes in the Korean Peninsula can be summarized as the followings; firstly, the intensity of earthquakes shows only weak spatial dependency, and shows large difference even at adjacent regions. Secondly, the epicenter distribution has a clear spatial accumulation pattern, even though the intensity of earthquake shows a random pattern. Thirdly, the high density area of earthquakes shows a clear 'L' shape, passing through Pyeongannam-do, centered at Pyeongyang, and Hwanghae-do, Seosan and Pohang. The correlation coefficient between the density of earthquakes and distance from geostructral region boundaries is much higher than those between the density of fault lines and distance from tectonic division boundaries. Since fault lines and tectonic divisions in the Korean Peninsula are the results of long-term geological development, there is an apparent scale discrepancy to find significant correlations with earthquakes. This result verifies the research hypothesis that the Korean Peninsula is divided into four geostructral regions in which each has its own moving direction and spatial deformation characteristics. The existence of geostructural regions is also supported by the movement parrerns of land masses estimated from the GPS measurements. This conclusion is expected to provide a new perspective to understand the geomorphological developments and the earthquake occurrences in the Korean Peninsula.

Development of Gated Myocardial SPECT Analysis Software and Evaluation of Left Ventricular Contraction Function (게이트 심근 SPECT 분석 소프트웨어의 개발과 좌심실 수축 기능 평가)

  • Lee, Byeong-Il;Lee, Dong-Soo;Lee, Jae-Sung;Chung, June-Key;Lee, Myung-Chul;Choi, Heung-Kook
    • The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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    • v.37 no.2
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    • pp.73-82
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    • 2003
  • Objectives: A new software (Cardiac SPECT Analyzer: CSA) was developed for quantification of volumes and election fraction on gated myocardial SPECT. Volumes and ejection fraction by CSA were validated by comparing with those quantified by Quantitative Gated SPECT (QGS) software. Materials and Methods: Gated myocardial SPECT was peformed in 40 patients with ejection fraction from 15% to 85%. In 26 patients, gated myocardial SPECT was acquired again with the patients in situ. A cylinder model was used to eliminate noise semi-automatically and profile data was extracted using Gaussian fitting after smoothing. The boundary points of endo- and epicardium were found using an iterative learning algorithm. Enddiastolic (EDV) and endsystolic volumes (ESV) and election fraction (EF) were calculated. These values were compared with those calculated by QGS and the same gated SPECT data was repeatedly quantified by CSA and variation of the values on sequential measurements of the same patients on the repeated acquisition. Results: From the 40 patient data, EF, EDV and ESV by CSA were correlated with those by QGS with the correlation coefficients of 0.97, 0.92, 0.96. Two standard deviation (SD) of EF on Bland Altman plot was 10.1%. Repeated measurements of EF, EDV, and ESV by CSA were correlated with each other with the coefficients of 0.96, 0.99, and 0.99 for EF, EDV and ESV respectively. On repeated acquisition, reproducibility was also excellent with correlation coefficients of 0.89, 0.97, 0.98, and coefficient of variation of 8.2%, 5.4mL, 8.5mL and 2SD of 10.6%, 21.2mL, and 16.4mL on Bland Altman plot for EF, EDV and ESV. Conclusion: We developed the software of CSA for quantification of volumes and ejection fraction on gated myocardial SPECT. Volumes and ejection fraction quantified using this software was found valid for its correctness and precision.

Experimental study on the relaxation zone depending on the width and distance of the weak zone existing ahead of tunnel face (터널 굴진면 전방에 위치한 연약대 폭과 이격거리에 따른 이완영역에 대한 실험적 연구)

  • Ham, Hyeon Su;Lee, Sang Duk
    • Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
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    • v.20 no.5
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    • pp.855-867
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    • 2018
  • When a weak zone exists ahead of tunnel face, the stress in the adjacent area would increase due to the longitudinal arching effect and the stability of the tunnel is affected. Therefore, it is critical to prepare a countermeasure through the investigation of the frontal weakness zone of the excavated face. Although there are several researches to predict the existence of weak zone ahead of tunnel face, such as geophysical exploration, numerical analysis and tunnel support, lack of studies on the relaxation zone depending on the width or distance from the vulnerable area. In this study, the impact of the weak zone on the formation of the relaxation zone was investigated. For this purpose, a series of laboratory test were carried out varying the width of the weak zone and the separation distance between tunnel face and weak zone. In the model test, sand with a water content of 3.8% was used to form a model ground. The model weak zone was constructed with dry sand curtains. The tunnel face was adjusted to allow a sequential excavation of upper and lower half part. load cells were installed on the bottom of the foundation and the tunnel face and measuring instruments for displacement were installed on the surface of the model ground to measure the vertical stress and surface displacements due to tunnel excavation respectively. The test results show that the width of weak zone did not affect the ground settlement while the ground subsidence drastically increased within 0.25D. The vertical stress and horizontal stress increased from 0.5D or less. In addition, the longitudinal arching effect is likely within the 1.0D zone ahead of the tunnel face, which may reduce the vertical stress in the ground following tunneling direction.

Ecological Examinations of the Radial Growth of Pine Trees (Pinus densiflora S. et Z.) on Mt. Namsan and the Potential Effects of Current Level of Air Pollutants to the Growth of the Trees in Central Seoul, Korea.

  • Kim, Eun-Shik
    • Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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    • v.10 no.E
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    • pp.371-386
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    • 1994
  • Ecological examinations of the radial growth Patterns of pine trees(Pinus densiflora Sieb. et Zucc) growing on Mt. Namsan in central Seoul were made to test a Proposition that the pine trees decline due to the influence of air pollution and acid rain, which was proposed by some researchers in Korea, and the potential effects of current level of air pollutants to the growth of the Pine trees in central Seoul have been speculated. Tree-rings of 40 trees sampled at 3 sites of Mt. Namsan were prepared and examined using a Computer-aided Tree-Ring Measuring System at Kookmin University, Korea. Air Pollutant data collected by the Ministry of Environment( MOE ) and the Forestry Research Institute(FRI) were used to infer the general conditions of the environment. Correlation analysis was applied to the data set of tree growth and the other environmental factors. General information derived from the close examination of the tree-rings and the data on air pollution, drought and the other biological conditions suggested that the growth of the pine trees was severely affected by the occurrence of drought(climatic variation), the prevalence of the pine leaf gall midges(insects), and the suppression by the black locust trees(Robinia pseudo-acacia L.) (competition among trees). While the current condition of air pollution in Seoul cannot be categorized as good, the concentrations of air pollutants are not so high as to cause acute damages to the trees. In addition, while the data of rain acidity showed episodic low PHs of under 4.0, the average of them is far less acidic than those which were observed in either northeastern United States or central Europe, where the decline of trees were not solely attributed to any of the air pollutants. Considering the sequential facts that one of the most important environmental factors that affect the growth of trees is weather condition of the forest that the proposition of the decline of the pine trees was made without careful examination of the growth patterns and past growth history of them as well as the complex influences of many other factors including the weather conditions to the growth of trees, and that no objective explanation has been made on the causal relationships between the current condition of air pollution and the growth of the trees, such a proposition should be evaluated as invalid for the explanation of tree growth on Mt. Namsan in central Seoul, Korea. The author evaluates the factors of air pollution (including acid rain) as the predisposing factors, which may have the Potentials to chronically affect the tree growth at the forest ecosystem on Mt. Namsan for a long period of time. Ecosystem ecological studies should be further carried out to carefully explain both the functional and the structural aspects of the ecosystem processes, which include the biogeochemistry and the long-term changes of soil conditions as well as the growth of the other tree species on the mountain.

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Salty-taste Activation of Human Brain Disclosed by Gustatory fMRI Study (뇌기능 자기공명영상 장치를 이용한 짠맛 자극에 따른 인간 뇌의 반응에 대한 기초 연구)

  • Kim S.H.;Choi K.S.;Lee H.Y.;Shin W.J.;Eun C.K.;Mun C.W.
    • Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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    • v.9 no.1
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    • pp.30-35
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    • 2005
  • Purpose : The purpose of this study is to observe the blood oxygen level dependent (BOLD) contrast changes due to the reaction of human brain at a gustatory sense in response to a salty-taste stimulation. Materials and Methods : Twelve healthy, non-smoking, right-handed male subjects (mean age: 25.6, range: 23-28 years) participated in this salty-taste stimulus functional magnetic resonance (fMRI) study. MRI scans were performed with 1.57 GE Signa, using a multi-slice GE-EPI sequence according to a blood-oxy-gen-level dependent (BOLD) experiment paradigm. Scan parameters included matrix size $128\times128$, FOV 250 mm, TR 5000 msec, TE 60 msec, TH/GAP 5/2 mm. Sequential data acquisitions were carried out for 42 measurements with a repetition time of 5 sec for each taste-stimulus experiments. Analysis of fMRI data was carried out using SPM99 implemented in Matlab. NaCl solution $(3\%)$ was used as a salty stimulus. The task paradigm consisted of alternating rest-stimulus cycles (30-second rest, 15-second stimulus) for 210 seconds. During the stimulus period, NaCl-solution was presented to the subject's mouth through plastic tubes as a bolus of delivered every 5 sec using -processor controlled auto-syringe pump. Results : Insula, frontal opercular taste cortex, amygdala and orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) were activated by a salty-taste stimulation $(NaCl,\;3\%)$ in the fMRI experiments. And dosolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) was also significantly responded to salty-taste stimuli. Activation areas of the right side hemisphere were more superior to the left side hemisphere. Conclusion : The results of this study well correspond to the fact that both insula, amygdala, OFC, DLPFC areas are established as taste cortical areas by neuronal recordings in primates. Authors found that laboratory-developed auto-syringe pump is suitable for gustatory fMRI study. Further research in this field will accelerate to inquire into the mechanism of higher order gustatory process.

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The Evaluation of Radiation Therapy and Combined-modality Therapy for Non-small-cell Lung Cancer in Elderly (고령의 비소세포성폐암 환자의 방사선 및 병용치료에 대한 효과 평가)

  • Yoon, Won-Sup;Yang, Dae-Sik;Kim, Chul-Yong
    • Radiation Oncology Journal
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    • v.25 no.2
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    • pp.101-108
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    • 2007
  • [ $\underline{Purpose}$ ]: To compare radiation therapy alone to combined modality therapy about survival rate and tolerance of elderly patients ($70=or{\geq}$) with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). $\underline{Materials\;and\;Methods}$: Between 1998 and 2002, 57 patients given radiation therapy due to NSCLC (Stage III) were analysed retrospectively. Radiation therapy alone (RT), concurrent chemoradiation (CRT), and sequential chemoradiation (SCRT) was done to 33, 16 and 8 patients, respectively. Patients' median age was 74 (range $70{\sim}85$). Male and female are 51 patients and 6 patients, respectively. 23 patients were stage IIIa and 34 were stage IIIb. Patients' characteristic distribution of RT and CRT was not significantly different except mass size that RT has a bigger than CRT. The fraction size of radiation therapy was 1.8 Gy in CRT and $1.8{\sim}3\;Gy$ in other groups. Total radiation dose was $51{\sim}63\;Gy$ according to the fraction size. If the prescribed total radiation dose was successfully irradiated, we stated that it was completion of radiation therapy. $\underline{Results}$: 52 patients were dead. Median period of radiation therapy was as follow: RT, 35 days, CRT, 60.5 days and SCRT, 35 days. Overall median survival time (MST) was 10.1 months. The 1 yr- and 2 yr-overall survival rate was 39.8% and 17.6%, respectively. MST of RT, CRT and SCRT was 8.9, 8.2 and 11.7 months, respectively. The 1 yr survival rate of RT, CRT and SCRT was 38.4%, 37.5% and 50% (not significant). Patients given incomplete radiation therapy were 12 (RT, 5 CRT, 6 SCRT, 1). N stage (p=0.081) and the difference of treatment methods (p=0.079) were the factors affecting incompletion of radiation therapy, but it was not significant. In case of combined-agents chemotherapy, 4 of 8 ceased radiation therapy. T stage ($T{\geq}3$), mass size (${\geq}5\;cm$), Karnofsky performance scale (${\leq}70$) and completion of radiation therapy were the prognostic factors in uni- and multi-variate analysis. $\underline{Conclusion}$: In elderly patients with NSCLC, radiation therapy alone was a treatment method with similar survival period compared with other methods. Generally, patients given radiation therapy alone was tolerable to a treatment. Before planning concurrent chemoirradiation in elderly patients with NSCLC, physicians pay attention to a selection of patients and chemotherapy agents considering general condition and toxicity.