• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.111-127
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• 2023

Purpose: Gallium-68 (⁶⁸Ga) is increasingly used in nuclear medicine imaging for various conditions such as lymphoma and neuroendocrine tumors by labeling tracers like Prostate Specific Membrane Antigen (PSMA) and DOTA-TOC. However, compared to Fluorine-18 (¹⁸F) used in conventional nuclear medicine imaging, ⁶⁸Ga has lower spatial resolution and relatively higher Signal to Background Ratio (SBR). Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the optimized parameters and reconstruction methods for PET/CT imaging using the ⁶⁸Ga radiotracer through model-based image evaluation. Materials and Methods: Based on clinical images of ⁶⁸Ga-PSMA PET/CT, a NEMA/IEC 2008 PET phantom model was prepared with a Hot vs Background (H/B) ratio of 10:1. Images were acquired for 9 minutes in list mode using DMIDR (GE, Milwaukee WI, USA). Subsequently, reconstructions were performed for 1 to 8 minutes using OS-EM (Ordered Subset Expectation Maximization) + TOF (Time of Flight) + Sharp IR (VPFX-S), and BSREM (Block Sequential Regularized Expectation Maximization) + TOF + Sharp IR (QCFX-S-400), followed by comparative evaluation. Based on the previous experimental results, images were reconstructed for BSREM + TOF + Sharp IR / 2 minutes (QCFX-S-2min) with varying β-strength values from 100 to 700. The image quality was evaluated using AMIDE (freeware, Ver.1.0.1) and Advanced Workstation (GE, USA). Results: Images reconstructed with QCFX-S-400 showed relatively higher values for SNR (Signal to Noise Ratio), CNR (Contrast to Noise Ratio), count, RC (Recovery Coefficient), and SUV (Standardized Uptake Value) compared to VPFX-S. SNR, CNR, and SUV exhibited the highest values at 2 minutes/bed acquisition time. RC showed the highest values for a 10 mm sphere at 2 minutes/bed acquisition time. For small spheres of 10 mm and 13 mm, an inverse relationship between β-strength increase and count was observed. SNR and CNR peaked at β-strength 400 and then decreased, while SUV and RC exhibited a normal distribution based on sphere size for β-strength values of 400 and above. Conclusion: Based on the experiments, PET/CT imaging using the ⁶⁸Ga radiotracer yielded the most favorable quantitative and qualitative results with a 2 minutes/bed acquisition time and BSREM reconstruction, particularly when applying β-strength 400. The application of BSREM can enhance accurate quantification and image quality in ⁶⁸Ga PET/CT imaging, and an optimization process tailored to each institution's imaging objectives appears necessary.

• Journal of Fisheries and Marine Sciences Education
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.1352-1363
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• 2015

This study was carried out to investigate the characteristics of the dependent variables depending on the condition changes of independent variable of the operation and the material during the production of collets added with rice and dried shrimp by using single extruder to utilize as basic data for the manufacture of extrusion collets. A total of 7 independent variables were set up as a raw, 20, 40 and 60 mesh for the powder particle size of rice; 12, 14, 16 and 18% for the moisture content of rice; 2, 4, 6 and 8% for the addition amount of dried shrimp; 90, 95, 100 and $110^{\circ}C$ for the barrel temperature; 210, 280 and 340 rpm for the screw speed; 4, 6, 8 and 10 mm for the discharge port diameter; 30, 40, 50 and 60 kg/h for the input amount of the mixed material. The characteristics of the dependent variables including puffing ratio, moisture content, lightness, uniformity, productivity of collets was to be studied by changing the conditions of the independent variables. As a results of this study, 20 mesh of powder particle size of rice, 14% of moisture content of rice, 4% of addition amount of dried shrimp, $100^{\circ}C$ of barrel temperature, 280 rpm of screw speed, 6 mm of discharge port diameter and 50 kg/h of input amount of mixed material were found to be the most preferable over other independent variables for the production of extrusion collets. In conclusion, it is necessary to set the independent variable in order to produce the high quality collets added with the rice as the main raw material and dried shrimp as the sub-materials.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.777-784
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• 2016

This study aimed to evaluate the quality characteristics of wheat-Makgeolli (WM), a traditional Korean cereal alcoholic drink, using three varieties of wheat, namely Jokyoung (JK), Baegjoong (BJ) and Keumkang (KK). Samples of WM brewed from 100%, 85% and 70% milling rates of the three Korean wheat cultivars were analyzed for alcohol, pH, coloring degree, total acids, soluble solid, free sugars, and organic acids. As the milling rates in wheat decreased, total sugar content in WM increased while the pH of all samples decreased. The WM exhibited 0.95~1.27% in acidity, $10.2{\sim}12.5^{\circ}Brix$ in total sugar, and 14~16% in alcohol content. The most organic acids in WM was lactic acid, ranging in all the samples from 85.3~650.3 mg%. The results showed that BJ under a 70% milling rate had the highest reducing sugar contents and 15.97% in alcohol content. The carbohydrate content increased with the milling rate of wheat. Resulting in a positive correlation between carbohydrate content of wheat and total acids, reducing sugars (p<0.001), and alcohol content (p<0.05) in WM. Total sugar content is positively correlated with alcohol and reducing sugar content (p<0.001). Considering the yield, the milling rates will be adjusted to raw material prices.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.323-329
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• 2013

Strawberries are among the leading ready-to-eat agricultural products that have superior taste and nutrition. Thus, consumer concerns about the safety of eating strawberries are growing. To evaluate the contamination levels of strawberries according to their cultivation methods (nutriculture, pesticide-free culture and organic farming) and parts [fruit (flesh), stalk (pedunle) and leaf (calyx)], 1,020 parts of strawberry samples were collected at 12 farms in Nonsan-si and quantitatively or qualitatively examined for the indicators of food safety and food poisoning bacteria. The total aerobic bacteria count in the whole samples was 2.3~6.8 ${\log}_{10}$ CFU/g, and coliform bacteria were detected in 14.2% of the whole samples with a contamination level range of 2.1~4.5 log CFU/g. E. coli were detected in 0.9% of the whole samples with a contamination level range of 2.1~2.8 log CFU/g. The analysis of the bacterial levels according to the cultivation methods showed that the total aerobic bacteria and coliform counts were higher in the strawberries that were grown via organic farming than in those that were grown via nutriculture and pesticide-free culture. However, the E. coli counts of the strawberries that were grown via organic farming and via pesticide-free culture were similar and differed from that of the strawberries that were grown via nutriculture. The analysis of the contamination levels according to the parts of the strawberries showed that the total aerobic bacteria, coliform and E. coli counts of the fruits, stalks and leaves of the strawberries did not significantly differ. Staphylococcus aureus was detected in two organically grown strawberries, but Salmonella spp., Listeria monocytogenes and E. coli O157:H7 were not detected in the whole samples. These results show that the bacterial contamination levels of the strawberries differed based on their cultivation methods. Thus, a suitable method of reducing the bacterial contamination levels of strawberries according to their farming methods is needed.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.111 no.2
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• pp.201-223
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• 2022

Currently, species extinctions are increasing due to climate change and continued anthropogenic impact. We selected 300 species for conservation with emphasis on plants co-occurring in the Baekdudaegan area, which is a large ecological axis of Korea. We aimed to investigate the vegetation community and environmental characteristics of Zabelia tyaihyonii in the limestone habitat among the target plant species in the Baekdudaegan region to derive effective conservation strategies. In Danyang-gun, Yeongwol-gun, and Jecheon-si, we selected 36 investigation sites where Z. tyaihyonii was present. We investigated the vegetation, flora, soil and physical environment. We also found notable plants such as Thalictrum petaloideum, Sillaphyton podagraria, and Neillia uekii at the investigation sites. We classified forest vegetation community types into 4 vegetation units and 7 species group types. With canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) of the vegetation community and habitat factors, we determined the overall explanatory power to be 75.2%, and we classified the environmental characteristics of the habitat of Z. tyaihyonii into a grouping of three. Among these, we detected a relationship between the environmental factors elevation, slope, organic matter, rock ratio, pH, potassium, and sodium. We identified numerous rare and endemic plants, including Thalictrum petaloideum, in the investigation site, and determined that these groups needed to be preserved at the habitat level. In the classification of the vegetation units analyzed based on the emerging plants and the CCA, we reaffirmed the uniqueness and specificity of the vegetation community in the habitat of Z. tyaihyonii. We anticipate that our results will be used as scientific evidence for the empirical conservation of the native habitats of Z. tyaihyonii.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.54 no.1
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• pp.71-79
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• 2003

Background : A bronchoalveolar lavage(BAL) is useful in diagnosing the etiology of bilateral pulmonary infiltrations, but may worsen the oxygenation and clinical status in severely hypoxemic patients. This study assessed the safety and efficacy of the continuous positive airway pressure(CPAP) using a conventional mechanical ventilator via a face mask as a tool for maintaining the oxygenation level during BAL. Methods : Seven consecutive patients with the bilateral pulmonary infiltrates and severe hypoxemia ($PaO_2/FIO_2$ ratio ${\leq}200$ on oxygen 10 L/min via mask with reservoir bag) were enrolled. The CPAP 5-6 $cmH_2O(F_IO_2\;1.0)$ was delivered through an inflatable face mask using a conventional mechanical ventilator. The CPAP began 10 min before starting the BAL and continued for 30 min after the procedure was completed. A bronchoscope was passed through a T-adapter and advanced through the mouth. BAL was performed using the conventional method. The vital signs, pulse oxymetry values, and arterial blood gases were monitored during the study. Results : (1) Median age was 56 years(male:female=4:3). (2) The baseline $PaO_2$ was $78{\pm}16mmHg$, which increased significantly to $269{\pm}116mmHg$(p=0.018) with CPAP. After the BAL, the $PaO_2$ did not decrease significantly but returned to the baseline level after the CPAP was discontinued. The $SpO_2$ showed a similar trend with the $PaO_2$ and did not decrease to below 90 % during the duration of the study. (3) The $PaCO_2$ increased and the pH decreased significantly after the BAL but returned to the baseline level within 30 min after the BAL. (5) No complications directly related to the BAL procedure were encountered. However, intubation was necessary in 3 patients(43 %) due to the progression of the underlying diseases. Conclusion : In severe hypoxemic patients, CPAP using a face mask and conventional mechanical ventilator during a BAL might allow minimal alterations in oxygenation and prevent subsequent respiratory failure.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.145-152
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• 2002

The composition of primary minerals in the rocks and secondary minerals of clay fractions of the soil developed on the cinder cones in the foot of Halla Mt., Jeju Island was investigated. The effects of parent materials on the physico-chemical properties and mineralogical characteristics were evaluated by XRD, DTA with the chemical composition of $H^+$ saturated clays. The main rock-forming minerals of a residual cinder cones were plagioclase with subsidiary minerals of hematite, gibbsite and quartz in the red cinder cone and of augite, quartz, feldspars and olivine in black cinder cone. It is demonstrated that ignition loss and sesquioxides content were higher in the red cinder soil than black cinder, which was resulted in the intermittent eruption of volcanic activity. For the chemical analysis of whole soils, $SiO_2/Al_2O_3$ ratio was increased from 2 to 3, but Ignition loss is decreased and $K_2O$ content are very low with increasing the soil depth in regard to the composition and kinds of clay minerals. No clay formation from micas mineral were in volcanic ashes. Dominant clay minerals of the cinder cone soils as a black and red cinder cone soil were allophane with some quartz and feldspars, while vermiculite, illite, kaolin were coexisted as a subsidiary minerals. But the red cinder cones soils had more hematite and gibbsite of the clay fractions than the black soils with magnetite. The exothermic pick of DTA at about $660^{\circ}C$ for cinder cone soils might be corresponded the oxidation magnetite to hematite reation. With regarding to the compositions of mineral detected by X-ray diffractogram and the properties of minerals by D.T.A thermogram, the dominant clay mineral was allophane of the cinder cone soils with some ferrous compounds, red colour of the cinder cone soils which are originated in hematite.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.24-28
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• 2010

Since the reaction of mineral fixation proceeds with a very slow rate, the pretreatment method to increases the rate of carbonation reaction should be required. To increase the reactivity of serpentine with $CO_{2}$, two pretreatment methods are performed in this study. The heat treatment is done at $630^{\circ}C$. A heat-treated serpentine shows that the strength of -OH has a lower peak in FT-IR spectrum. Chemical pretreatment is the method of leaching of magnesium from serpentine using sulfuric acid at $75^{\circ}C$ for 1 h. Because the protonation of the oxygen atoms polarizes and weakens the Mg-O-Si bond, the removal of magnesium atoms from the crystal lattice was facilitated. After performing the pre-treatment of serpentine, $CO_{2}$ fixation experiments are performed with treated serpentine in the batch reactor. Heat-treated serpentine is converted into 43% magnesite conversion, whereas untreated serpentine has 27% of magnesite conversion. Although the results of the heat-pretreatment are encouraging, this method is prohibited due to excessive energy consumption. Furthermore chemical pretreatment serpentine routes have been proposed in an effort to avoid the cost prohibitive heat pretreatment, in which the carbonation reaction was conducted at 45 atm and $25^{\circ}C$. Chemical-treated serpentine, in particularly is corresponded to a conversion of 42% of magnesite compared to 24% for the un-treated serpentine.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.45-51
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• 2005

As a silicate source to rice, a coal ash (50%) was mixed with a phosphogypsum (hereafter, gypsum, 50%). Field experiments were carried out to evaluate rice (Oryza sativa) productivity in silt loam (SiL) to which 0, 20, 40 and $60Mg\;ha^{-1}$ of the mixture were added. The mixture increased rice yield and showed the highest yields following the addition of $30Mg\;ha^{-1}$. The mixture did not result in an excessive uptake of heavy metals by the rice grain. The mixture improved available silicate and phosphate and exchangeable calcium contents in soil. The available boron content in soil increased with the mixture application levels up to $1.42mg\;kg^{-1}$ following the application of $60Mg\;ha^{-1}$, but boron toxicity in rice was not found. It is concluded that the coal ash and gypsum mixture could be a good alternative to inorganic soil amendments to restore the soil nutrient balance in paddy soil.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.411-416
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• 2015

Olive flounder Paralichthys olivaceus production has increased gradually in recent years, but prices have fallen. Thus, the development of a variety of processed foods incorporating olive flounder would help to increase the income of fishermen. This study was conducted to investigate the best method for olive flounder ball processing. Clean olive flounder were divided into five portions. Olive flounder meat (100 g with added egg white 39 g) was chopped and then mixed with 10 mL fresh cream and ingredients. The dough was molded into the shape of a ball. The olive flounder balls were then processed by two different methods. In the first method, the flounder ball was boiled in water for 3 min then vacuum-packed in polyethylene film and stored at $-20^{\circ}C$ for 7 days. After 7 days, the ball was thawed and heated in a microwave for 2 min (Sample-1). In the second method, the ball was vacuum-packed in polyethylene film without boiling and then stored at $-20^{\circ}C$ for 7 days before thawing and boiling in water for 3 min (Sample-2). After heating, both types of olive flounder balls were evaluated. Various factors (including the viable bacterial count, chemical composition, pH, hardness, thiobarbituric acid level, salinity, and free amino acid content) were measured, and a sensory evaluation was conducted. Based on the results of the sensory and hardness evaluations, Sample-1 was deemed to be superior to Sample-2.