• Horticultural Science & Technology
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.29-35
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• 2011

Individual ion concentrations and ionic contributions to EC reading in the circulated nutrient solution are the important factors to be considered for stable EC-based closed-loop soilless culture. This study was conducted to determine appropriate ion-analysis intervals of the circulated nutrient solutions based on ion concentration, ion balance, and ion electrical conductivity under different renewal intervals in EC-based nutrient control systems for sweet peppers (Capsicum annum L. 'Fiesta') in early growth stage. Average node numbers of the plants were 13 and 18 when the experiment started and finished, respectively, and three plants were grown in each rockwool slab. Four different renewal intervals of circulated nutrient solutions such as 1, 2, 3, and 4 weeks were used as treatment. Nutrient solutions were supplied to the plants based on integrated radiation. Drainage was collected into drain tanks after irrigation ended in the day and then mixed with fresh water until the EC reaches 2.69 $dS{\cdot}m^{-1}$. The replenished nutrient solution was supplied to the plants in the next day. Ion concentrations of the individual ions periodically analyzed in the circulated nutrient solutions showed no significant differences among the treatments during the experimental period. Ion concentrations of $K^+$, $Ca^{2+}$, $Mg^{2+}$, $Na^+$, $NO_3{^-}$, ${SO_4}^{2-}$, ${PO_4}^{3-}$, and $Cl^-$ varied within 5-8, 11-14, 2.0-2.7, 0.5-0.6, 14-19, 4-5, 1-4, and 0.3-0.5 $meq{\cdot}L^{-1}$, respectively. Ion balance showed a consistent tendency over all the treatments and especially $K^+$ : $Ca^{2+}$ and ${SO_4}^{2-}$ : ${PO_4}^{3-}$ played great roles in the cation and anion balances in the nutrient solutions, respectively. Activity coefficients of ions such as $K^+$, $NO_3{^-}$, and $H_2PO_4{^-}$ varied within 0.8-0.9 and those of $Ca^{2+}$, $Mg^{2+}$, ${SO_4}^{2-}$ varied within 0.5-0.6, showing little changes with time. Ionic contributions of $K^+$ and $NO_3{^-}$ to EC reading were the greatest followed by $Ca^{2+}$, ${SO_4}^{2-}$, and $Mg^{2+}$ in the order. From the results, we thought that allowable ranges in ion concentration, ion balance, and subsequent individual ionic contributions to EC reading would be obtained within 4-week renewal interval of nutrient solution in EC-based closed-loop soilless culture for sweet pepper plants.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.450-460
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• 2005

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of cavity shape, bond quality of bonding agent and volume of resin composite on shrinkage stress developed at the cavity floor. This was done by measuring the shear bond strength with respect to iris materials (cavity shape , adhesive-coated dentin as a high C-factor and Teflon-coated metal as a low C-factor), bonding agents (bond quality: $Scotchbond^{TM}$ Multi-purpose and Xeno III) and iris hole diameters (volume; 1mm or 3mm in $diameter{\times}1.5mm$ in thickness). Ninety-six molars were randomly divided into 8 groups ($2{\times}2{\times}2$ experimental setup). In order to simulate a Class I cavity, shear bond strength was measured on the flat occlusal dentin surface with irises. The iris hole was filled with Z250 restorative resin composite in a bulk-filling manner. The data was analyzed using three-way ANOVA and the Tukey test. Fracture mode analysis was also done When the cavity had high C-factor, good bond quality and large volume, the bond strength decreased significantly The volume of resin composite restricted within the well-bonded cavity walls is also be suggested to be included in the concept of C-factor, as well as the cavity shape and bond quality. Since the bond quality and volume can exaggerate the effect of cavity shape on the shrinkage stress developed at the resin-dentin bond, resin composites must be filled in a method, which minimizes the volume that can increase the C-factor.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.179-185
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• 2006

This study was conducted to evaluate canal configuration after shaping by $ProTaper^{TM}$ with various rotational speed in J-shaped simulated resin canals. Forty simulated root canals were divided into 4 groups, and instrumented using by $ProTaper^{TM}$ at the rotational speed of 250, 300, 350 and 400 rpm. Pre-instrumented and post-instrumented images were taken by a scanner and those were superimposed. Outer canal width, inner canal width, total canal width, and amount of transportation from original axis were measured at 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 mm from apex. Instrumentation time, instrument deformation and fracture were recorded. Data were analyzed by means of one-way ANOVA followed by Scheffe's test. The results were as follows 1. Regardless of rotational speed, at the $1{\sim}2mm$ from the apex, axis of canal was transported to outer side of a curvature, and at 3~6 mm from the apex, to inner side of a curvature. Amounts of transportation from original axis were not sienifcantly different among experimental groups except at 5 and 6 mm from the apex. 2. Instrumentation time of 350 and 400 rpm was significantly less than that of 250 and 300 rpm (p<0.01). In conclusion the rotational speed of $ProTaper^{TM}$ files in the range of $250{\sim}400rpm$ does not affect the change of canal configuration, and high rotational speed reduces the instrumentation time. However appearance of separation and distortion of Ni-Ti rotary files can occur in high rotational speed.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.192-202
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• 2006

The purpose of this study was to examine the viability of PDL cells in rat molars by using in vivo MTT assay, which was used to compare fast cryopreservation group by liquid nitrogen $(-196^{\circ}C)\;with\;4^{\circ}C$ cold preservation group. A total of 74 Sprague-Dawley white female rats of 4 week-old with a body weight of 100 grams were used. The maxillary left and right, first and second molars were extracted as atraumatically as possible under ketamine anesthesia. Ten teeth of each group were divided as six experimental groups depending upon the preservation. Cryopreservation groups were Group 1 (5% DMSO 6% HES in F medium) Group 2 (10% DMSO in F medium), Group 3 (5% DMSO 6% HES in $Viaspan^(R)$). Group 4 (10% DMSO in $Viaspan^(R)$) which were cryopreserved for 1 week and cold preservation groups were Group 5 (F medium) , Group 6 ($Viaspan^(R)$) at $4^{\circ}C$ for 1 week. Immediate extraction group was used as a control. After preservation and thawing, the in vivo MTT assay was processed. Two way ANOVA and Duncan's Multiple Range Test was performed at the 95 % level of confidence, Another 2 teeth of each group were treated as the same manner and frozen sections $10{\mu}m$ thick for microscopic observation. The value of optical density obtained after in vivo MTT analysis was divided by the value of eosin staining for tissue volume standardization. Group 1, 2 had significantly higher optical density than Group 3 and 4 which had the lowest OD value. Group 6 had higher OD value than in Group 5 (P<0.05). Histological findings of periodontal ligament cell, after being stained with MTT solution were consistent with the in vivo MTT assay results. In this study, the groups which were frozen with DMSO as a cryoprotectant and the groups with F medium showed the best results.

• Current Research on Agriculture and Life Sciences
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• v.4
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• pp.87-94
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• 1986

This study was performed in order to contemplate their correlations between physical and mechanical properties of the marine clays which were collected from main harbors in Korea. The results obtained are as follows: 1. Most of the soils in experimental districts consist of CH. CL. and ML. and they are considered to be still proceeding. 2. The equations of the relationship between compression index and liquid limit are as, follows: CH : $C_c=0.0137$ (LL-22.60) CL : $C_c=0.0123$ (LL-14.64) 3. The relationship between compression index and initial void ratio appears that the higher the plasticity, the easier the slope of the regression line. The equations are as follows : CH : $C_c=0.431$ ($e_o-0.504$) CH : $C_c=0.471$ ($e_o-0.235$) ML : $C_c=0.641$ ($e_o-0.393$) 4. The equations of the relationship between compression index and natural water content are as follows: CH : $C_c=0.0133$ ($W_n-28.27$) CL : $C_c=0.0225$ ($W_n-23.56$) ML : $C_c=0.0106$ ($W_n-16.42$) 5. The relationship between initial void ratio and natural water content, and compression index is highly positive correlation and the equations are as follows : CH : $C_c=0.301$ ($e_o+0.017W_n-1.05$) CL : $C_c=0.141$ ($e_o+0.0567W_n-1.054$) ML : $C_c=0.421$ ($e_o+0.0214W_n-1.121$) 6. The equations of the relationship between initial void ratio and liquid limit, and compression index are as follows : CH : $C_c=0.36$ ($e_o+0.08LL-0.819$) CL : $C_c=0.269$ ($e_o+0.026LL-0.929$) 7. The cohesion of marine clays is no concerned with the increment of depth. The equations of relationship between cohesion and unconfined compression strength are as follows. CH : qu=1.896C+0.0107 CL : qu=1.849C+0.04.

• The KIPS Transactions:PartB
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• v.13B no.5 s.108
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• pp.561-568
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• 2006

WPS(Wearable Personal Station) for next generation PC can define as a core terminal of 'Ubiquitous Computing' that include information processing and network function and overcome spatial limitation in acquisition of new information. As a way to acquire significant dynamic gesture data of user from haptic devices, traditional gesture recognizer based on desktop-PC using wire communication module has several restrictions such as conditionality on space, complexity between transmission mediums(cable elements), limitation of motion and incommodiousness on use. Accordingly, in this paper, in order to overcome these problems, we implement hand gesture recognition system using fuzzy algorithm and neural network for Post PC(the embedded-ubiquitous environment using blue-tooth module and WPS). Also, we propose most efficient and reasonable hand gesture recognition interface for Post PC through evaluation and analysis of performance about each gesture recognition system. The proposed gesture recognition system consists of three modules: 1) gesture input module that processes motion of dynamic hand to input data 2) Relational Database Management System(hereafter, RDBMS) module to segment significant gestures from input data and 3) 2 each different recognition modulo: fuzzy max-min and neural network recognition module to recognize significant gesture of continuous / dynamic gestures. Experimental result shows the average recognition rate of 98.8% in fuzzy min-nin module and 96.7% in neural network recognition module about significantly dynamic gestures.

• Korean Journal of Remote Sensing
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.99-120
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• 1997

Solar radiation is scattered and absorbed atmospheric compositions in the atmosphere before it reaches the surface and, then after reflected at the surface, until it reaches the satellite sensor. Therefore, consideration of the radiative transfer through the atmosphere is essential for the quantitave analysis of the satellite sensed data, specially at shortwave region. This study examined a feasibility of using radiative transfer code for estimating the atmospheric effects on satellite remote sensing data. To do this, the flux simulated by LOWTRAN7 is compared with CAGEX data in shortwave region. The CAGEX (CERES/ARM/GEWEX Experiment) data provides a dataset of (1) atmospheric soundings, aerosol optical depth and albedo, (2) ARM(Aerosol Radiation Measurement) radiation flux measured by pyrgeometers, pyrheliometer and shadow pyranometer and (3) broadband shortwave flux simulated by Fu-Liou's radiative transfer code. To simulate aerosol effect using the radiative transfer model, the aerosol optical characteristics were extracted from observed aerosol column optical depth, Spinhirne's experimental vertical distribution of scattering coefficient and D'Almeida's statistical atmospheric aerosols radiative characteristics. Simulation of LOWTRAN7 are performed on 31 sample of completely clear days. LOWTRAN's result and CAGEX data are compared on upward, downward direct, downward diffuse solar flux at the surface and upward solar flux at the top of the atmosphere(TOA). The standard errors in LOWTRAN7 simulation of the above components are within 5% except for the downward diffuse solar flux at the surface(6.9%). The results show that a large part of error in LOWTRAN7 flux simulation appeared in the diffuse component due to scattering mainly by atmispheric aerosol. For improving the accuracy of radiative transfer simulation by model, there is a need to provide better information about the radiative charateristrics of atmospheric aerosols.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.45-55
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• 1981

Clomiphene citrate. antiestrogen, was given to 39 infertile males whose spermatogenesis were disturbed and the efficacy of the drug was evaluated at the Department of Urology in 1980. (Table 1). Patients were divided into 3 clinical observation groups such as group I composed of 19 cases of idiopathic azoospermia, group II consisted of 15 cases of oligospermia following the vasovasostomy, and group III comprised 5 cases of testicular azoospermia. (Table 2). Clinical characteristics of these patients were as follows: Age of the patients ranged from 26 to 43 years old with mean of 34, and that of their wives ranged from 24 to 41 years old with mean of 31. Duration of marital life ranged from 1 to 21 years with mean of 5 years. Sizes of testis ranged from 6 to 25 ml with mean of 16 ml. Coital frequency ranged from 0.5 to 6 per week with mean of 2.4 per week. Levels of plasma FSH ranged from 3.15 to 23.06 lU/1 with mean of 8.15 lU/1, those of LH ranged from 2.98 to 19.89 lU/1 with mean of 8.18 lU/1 and those of testosterone ranged from 3.09 to 9.97 ng/ml with mean of 6.48 ng/ml. (Table 3). Clomiphene citrate was given in dosage of 50 mg per day (in d.) orally to 31 patients for 3 to 9 months and in dosage of 100 mg per day (b.i.d.) orally to 8 patients for 3 to 9 months. (Table 8). Semen samples were analysed monthly on each patient by routine analysis techniques. For the assessment of the efficacy of Clomiphene citrate on faulty spermatogenesis following empirical criteria were used: For semen quality: Improvement (I) represents that semen parameter increased more than 25% from basal level after the treatment, Unchange (U) expresses that semen parameter increased less than 25% of basal level or not changed after the treatment and Deterioration (D) means that semen parameter decreased from basal level after the treatment. For fertility unit (total counts ${\times}$ motility ${\times}$ morphology ${\div}10^6$): Improvement (I) represents that fertility unit increased more than 10 units after the treatment, Unchange (U) expresses that fertility unit increased less than 10 units or not changed after the treatment, and Deterioration (D) means that fertility unit decreased after the treatment. (Table 4). Results obtained from the Clomiphene therapy were as follows: Changes of spermiograme before and after the Oomiphene therapy shown in the Table 5. Sperm counts increased from 23 to 31 ${\times}10^6$/ml in group I, from 17 to 29 ${\times}10^6$/ml in group II. Other parameters of spermiogramme were not changed significantly after the treatment. Fertility units increased from 14 to 18 units after the treatment in group I, and from 16 to 18 units after the treatment in group II. Effectiveness of Clomiphene citrate on spermatogenesis was summarised in the Tables 6 and 7. After the treatment, sperm count increased in 11 patients, motility increased in 6 patients, morphology increased in 4 patients and fertility units increased in 9 patients. No sperm could be produced by Clomiphene citrate in group III of testicular azoospermia. Dosage of 50 mg of Clomiphene citrate per day for 3 to 6 months was proved to be the most effective in the present series. (Table 8). Pregnancy occurred in 2 patients after the treatment. No particular side effects were noted by the treatment. Pharmacologic compounds used for male infertility were shown in the Table 9. Reported results of Clomiphene citrate were shown in the Table 10.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.187-197
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• 2009

Objective: Phosphorylation and dephosphorylation of proteins are important in regulating cellular signaling pathways. Bead-based multiplex phosphorylation assay was conducted to detect the phosphorylation of seven proteins to maximize the information obtained from a single lysate of stage-specific mouse oocytes at a time. Methods: Cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) were cultured for 2 h, 8 h, and 16 h, respectively to address phosphorylation status of seven target proteins during oocyte maturation process. We analyzed the changes in phosphorylation at germinal vesicle (GV, 0 h), germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD, 2 h), metaphase I (MI, 8 h), and metaphase II (MII, 16 h in vitro or in vivo) mouse oocytes by using Bio-Plex phosphoprotein assay system. We chose seven target proteins, namely, three mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs), ERK1/2, JNK, and p38 MAPK, and other 4 well known signaling molecules, Akt, GSK-$3{\alpha}/{\beta}$, $I{\kappa}B{\alpha}$, and STAT3 to measure their phosphorylation status. Western blot analysis and kinase inhibitor treatment for ERK1/2, JNK, and Akt during in vitro maturation of oocytes were conducted for the confirmation. Results: Phosphorylation of ERK1/2, JNK, p38 MAPK and STAT3 was increased over 3 folds up to 20 folds, while phosphorylation of the other three signal molecules, Akt, GSK-$3{\alpha}/{\beta}$, and $I{\kapa}B{\alpha}$ was less than 3 folds. All of these results except for Akt were statistically significant (p<0.05). Conclusion: This is the first report on the new and valuable method measuring many phosphoproteins simultaneously in one minute sample such as oocyte lysates. All of the three MAPKs, ERK1/2, JNK, and p38 MAPK are involved in the process of mouse oocyte maturation. In addition, STAT3 might be important regulator of oocyte maturation, while Akt phosphorylation at Serine 473 may not be involved in the regulation of oocyte maturation.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.19-31
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• 2007

Objective: Pathogenesis of the endometriosis is very complex and the etiology is still unclear. Our hypothesis is that there may be some difference in gene expression patterns between eutopic endometriums with or without endometriosis. In this study, we analyzed the difference of gene expression profile with cDNA microarray. Methods: Endometrial tissues were gathered from patients with endometriosis or other benign gynecologic diseases. cDNA microarray technique was applied to screen the different gene expression profiles from early and late secretory phase endometria of those two groups. Each three mRNA samples isolated from early and late secretory phase of endometrial tissues of control were pooled and used as master controls and labeled with Cy3-dUTP. Then the differences of gene expression pattern were screened by comparing eutopic endometria with endometriosis, which were labeled with Cy5-dUTP. Fluorescent labeled probes were hybridized on a microarray of 4,800 human genes. Results: Twelve genes were consistently over-expressed in the endometrium of endometriosis such as ATP synthase H transporting F1 (ATP5B), eukaryotic translation elongation factor 1, isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 (NADP+), mitochondrial ribosomal protein L3, ATP synthase H+ transporting (ATP5C1) and TNF alpha factor. Eleven genes were consistently down-regulated in the endometriosis samples. Many extracellular matrix protein genes (decorin, lumican, EGF-containing fibulin-like extracellular matrix protein 1, fibulin 5, and matrix Gla protein) and protease/protease inhibitors (serine proteinase inhibitor, matrix metalloproteinase 2, tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 1), and insulin like growth factor II associated protein were included. Expression patterns of selected eight genes from the cDNA microarray were confirmed by quantitative RT-PCR or real time RT-PCR. Conclusion: The result of this analysis supports the hypothesis that the endometrium from patients with endometriosis has distinct gene expression profile from control endometrium without endometriosis.