• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.154-158
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• 1999

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to find the optimum TE value for enhancing $T_2^{*}$ weighting effect and minimizing the SNR degradation and to compare the BOLD effects according to the changes of TE in 1.5T and 3.0T MRI systems. Materials and Methods : Healthy normal volunteers (eight males and two females with 24-38 years old) participated in this study. Each volunteer was asked to perform a simple finger-tapping task (sequential opposition of thumb to each of the other four fingers) with right hand with a mean frequency of about 2Hz. The stimulus was initially off for 3 images and was then alternatively switched on and off for 2 cycles of 6 images. Images were acquired on the 1.5T and 3.0T MRI with the FLASH (fast low angle shot) pulse sequence (TR : 100ms, FA : $20^{\circ}$, FOV : 230mm) that was used with 26, 36, 46, 56, 66, 76ms of TE times in 1.5T and 16, 26, 36, 46, 56, 66ms of TE in 3.0T MRI system. After the completion of scan, MR images were transferred into a PC and processed with a home-made analysis program based on the correlation coefficient method with the threshold value of 0.45. To search for the optimum TE value in fMRI, the difference between the activation and the rest by the susceptibility change for each TE was used in 1.5T and 3.0T respectively. In addition, the functional $T_2^{*}$ map was calculated to quantify susceptibility change. Results : The calculated optimum TE for fMRI was $61.89{\pm}2.68$ at 1.5T and $47.64{\pm}13.34$ at 3.0T. The maximum percentage of signal intensity change due to the susceptibility effect inactivation region was 3.36% at TE 66ms in 1.5T 10.05% at TE 46ms in 3.0T, respectively. The signal intensity change of 3.0T was about 3 times bigger than of 1.5T. The calculated optimum TE value was consistent with TE values which were obtained from the maximum signal change for each TE. Conclusion : In this study, the 3.0T MRI was clearly more sensitive, about three times bigger than the 1.5T in detecting the susceptibility due to the deoxyhemoglobin level change in the functional MR imaging. So the 3.0T fMRI I ore useful than 1.5T.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.178-190
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• 2006

Objectives : We investigated the relationship of the alcohol withdrawal symptoms with genetic polymorphism among alcohol dependence patients. Method : The measuring instruments used in this study were the Clinical Institute Withdrawal Assessment for Alcohol(CIWA-Ar). We analyzed DRD2 TaqI A polymorphism, dopamine transporter(DAT 1) polymorphism, and catechol-O-methyltransferase(COMT) polymorphism in 108 male alcoholics and 76 healthy controls. Results : The major findings was as follows. No significant differences for genotype distribution or allele frequency were revealed comparing controls and alcoholic patients. DRD2 Taq I : The subscale score of auditory hallucination among CIWA-Ar scale in homozygote was significantly higher than in heterozygote(OR=1.34). The total score of CIWA-Ar scale in heterozygote was significantly higher than in homozygote. DAT1 : In the subject without DAT-9 gene allele, it was significantly higher of the subscale score of sweating, anxiety among CIWA-Ar scale than in the subject with DAT-9 gene allele. And The total score of CIWA-Ar scale in the subject without DAT-9 gene allele was significantly higher than in the subject with DAT-9 gene allele. COMT : The total score of CIWA-Ar scale in heterozygote was significantly higher than in homozygote. Conclusion : Our results suggest the relationship between specific genetic factors and the withdrawal symptoms of alcohol dependent patients. As the candidate gene of the severity of alcohol withdrawal syndrome, DRD2 Taq1 gene was recommended.

• Journal of fish pathology
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.111-122
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• 1993

The mechanism by which $V_H$ region gene segments is selected in B lymphocyte is not known. Moreover, evidence for both random and nonrandom expression of $V_H$ genes in matured B cells has been presented previously. In this report, the technique of in situ hybridization allowed us to analyze expressed $V_H$ gene families in normal B lymphocyte at the single cell level. The analysis of normal B cells in this study eliminated any posssible bias resulting from transformation protocols used previously and minimized limitation associated with sampling size. Therefore, an accurate measure of the functional and expressed $V_H$ gene repertoire in B lymphocyte could be made. One of the most important controls for the optimization of in situ hybridization is to establish probe concentration and washing stringency due to the degree of nucleotide sequence similarlity between different families which in some cases can be as high as 70%. When the radioactive $C{\mu}$ and $V_{H}J558$ RNA probes are tested on LPS-stimulated adult spleen cells, $2{\sim}4{\times}106cpm$/slide shows low background and reasonable frequency of specific positive cells. For the washing condition. 40~50% formamide at $54^{\circ}C$ is found to be optimum for the $C{\mu}$. $V_{H}S107$ and $V_{H}J558$ probes. The analyzed results clearly demonstrate that the level of each different $V_H$ gene family expression is dependent upon the complexity or size of that family. These findings are also extended to the level of $V_H$ gene family expression in separated bone marrow B cells depend upon the various stage of differentiation and conclude no preferential utilization of specific $V_H$ gene family. Thus, the utilization of VH gene segments in B lymphocyte of adult BALB/c mice is random and is not regulated or changed during the differentiation of B cells.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.98-107
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• 2006

Magnetization Transfer (MT) imaging generates contrast dependent on the phenomenon of magnetization exchange between free water proton and restricted proton in macromolecules. In biological materials in knee, MT or cross-relaxation is commonly modeled using two spin pools identified by their different T2 relaxation times. Two models for cross-relaxation emphasize the role of proton chemical exchange between protons of water and exchangeable protons on macromolecules, as well as through dipole-dipole interaction between the water and macromolecule protons. The most essential tool in medical image manipulation is the ability to adjust the contrast and intensity. Thus, it is desirable to adjust the contrast and intensity of an image interactively in the real time. The proton density (PD) and T2-weighted SE MR images allow the depiction of knee structures and can demonstrate defects and gross morphologic changes. The PD- and T2-weighted images also show the cartilage internal pathology due to the more intermediate signal of the knee joint in these sequences. Suppression of fat extends the dynamic range of tissue contrast, removes chemical shift artifacts, and decreases motion-related ghost artifacts. Like fat saturation, phase sensitive methods are also based on the difference in precession frequencies of water and fat. In this study, phase sensitive methods look at the phase difference that is accumulated in time as a result of Larmor frequency differences rather than using this difference directly. Although how MT work was given with clinical evidence that leads to quantitative model for MT in tissues, the mathematical formalism used to describe the MT effect applies to explaining to evaluate knee disorder, such as anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear and meniscal tear. Calculation of the effect of the effect of the MT saturation is given in the magnetization transfer ratio (MTR) which is a quantitative measure of the relative decrease in signal intensity due to the MT pulse.

• Journal of Astronomy and Space Sciences
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.1-12
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• 2005

The Korean VLBI Network (KVN) will open a new field of research in astronomy, geodesy and earth science using the newest three Elm radio telescopes. This will expand our ability to look at the Universe in the millimeter regime. Imaging capability of radio interferometry is highly dependent upon the antenna configuration, source size, declination and the shape of target. In this paper, imaging simulations are carried out with the KVN system configuration. Five test images were used which were a point source, multi-point sources, a uniform sphere with two different sizes compared to the synthesis beam of the KVN and a Very Large Array (VLA) image of Cygnus A. The declination for the full time simulation was set as +60 degrees and the observation time range was -6 to +6 hours around transit. Simulations have been done at 22GHz, one of the KVN observation frequency. All these simulations and data reductions have been run with the Astronomical Image Processing System (AIPS) software package. As the KVN array has a resolution of about 6 mas (milli arcsecond) at 220Hz, in case of model source being approximately the beam size or smaller, the ratio of peak intensity over RMS shows about 10000:1 and 5000:1. The other case in which model source is larger than the beam size, this ratio shows very low range of about 115:1 and 34:1. This is due to the lack of short baselines and the small number of antenna. We compare the coordinates of the model images with those of the cleaned images. The result shows mostly perfect correspondence except in the case of the 12mas uniform sphere. Therefore, the main astronomical targets for the KVN will be the compact sources and the KVN will have an excellent performance in the astrometry for these sources.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
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• v.40 no.5
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• pp.63-72
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• 2012

In contemporary times, "environmental designers" need to consider both exterior and interior aspects because of the growing trend in dissolution between exterior and interior spaces. To quantify "spatial sense" which serves as the standard for environmental design, this study has asked 63 subjects to evaluate 15 interior and 14 exterior spaces. The "spaciousness (small-large)", "openness(closed-open)", "warmness(warm-cold)", "brightness(bright-dark)", "softness(soft-hard)", "spatial intimacy" and "frequency of visit" were adopted as variables of spatial sense. Through the analysis of these variables, this study could gain the difference between spatial sense for exterior and interior environments, quantify the spatial sense that physically and psychologically appropriates to human beings. The result of this study can be summarized as follows: Twice the amount of spaciousness was observed between the interior and exterior spaces. And the standard on intimate space is established with W/H ratio of 5.71 and high Window/Wall Area ratio in the interior and an area of 3,800m2 and a W/H ratio of 5.57 in exterior. The difference between the spatial sense in the interior and exterior space is mostly dependent on the psychological sense. The increase of physical size caused by the interior space to be perceived as cold, dark and hard psychologically, but exterior space to be perceived as warm, bright and soft. Psychological senses, especially softness, affect spatial intimacy to the greatest extent among the given variables. As the psychological senses for interior spaces were largely independent from the given space's size and perceptive senses, the size of the interior space, which exhibited spatial intimacy, could not be deduced. In comparison to this, due to the high dependency between the psychological senses for exterior spaces and the given space's size and perceptive senses. The study also showed that interior and exterior spaces have relatively different spatial sense and physical standards. Such research results are predicted to provide applicable standards for environmental designers for exterior and interior spaces in the future.

• Journal of dental hygiene science
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.217-224
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• 2016

The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the number of existing permanent teeth is associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in a representative sample of Korean adults. Data from 3,107 subjects who participated in the 2009 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were examined. The dependent variable was COPD and the independent variable was the number of existing permanent teeth. Spirometry results were classified into three groups (normal pattern, restrictive pattern, and obstructive pattern) by trained technicians. We used dichotomized COPD variables (no vs. yes). The number of existing permanent teeth was evaluated by oral examination and divided into 3 groups (0~19, 20~27, and 28). Demographic factors (age group and sex group), socioeconomic status (education and income), health behaviors (smoking and drinking), oral health and behavior (frequency of toothbrushing; periodontitis; decayed, missing, filled, permanent teeth index; and denture status), and general health status (body mass index, diabetes mellitus, and hypertension) were included as confounders in the analysis. Bivariate analysis and multivariate logistic regression analyses including confounders were applied, and all analyses considered a complex sampling design. Stratified analysis was performed by smoking status. After controlling for various confounders, there was a significant association between the number of existing permanent teeth and COPD (odds ratio [OR], 1.90; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.20~3.00 for the 20~27 group; OR, 3.93; 95% CI, 1.75~8.84 for the 0~19 group). The association was more significant in current smokers (OR, 8.90; 95% CI, 2.53~31.33). Our data indicate that the number of existing permanent teeth was independently associated with COPD, especially in current smokers. Further longitudinal research is needed to determine whether oral health promotion plays a role in the improvement of lung function and prevention of COPD.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.87-100
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• 2009

Objectives: This study was conducted to suggest the way to improve the tobacco control program of public health centers in Korea. Methods: A survey with a self-administered questionnaire was conducted among 246 persons in charge of tobacco control work in public health centers nationwide in December, 2006. Frequency analysis was performed with a final sample of 212 respondents with SPSS 12.0 for Windows. Results: The duration of engagement in tobacco control work was less than 3 years among 86.7% of respondents, and 87.3% of respondents had other duties besides tobacco control. Almost all public health centers conducted a campaign with posters or leaflets, and smoking prevention education among adolescents. The actual priority for programs was based on the community diagnosis in only 33.5% of the cases. Only 1.9% of respondents complained lack of budget, on the other hand, 44.7% of respondents appealed insufficient number of personnel. The route of knowledge and skill was largely dependent on self-learning or information from colleague. Collaboration with other related department was done well in 39.5% of the cases. The majority of respondents was satisfied with the general support from central government. Conclusions: To improve the tobacco control program of public health centers, it is needed the reinforcement of capacity and specialty among personnel, priority setting and performance of programs based on the scientific evidence, induction of community participation, utilization of community human resources, development of education and training course for practical skill, effective networking among departments.

• Journal of Aquaculture
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.141-149
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• 1996

Effects of $17{\alpha}$-methyltestosterone ($17{\alpha}-MT$) in rearing water on sex reversal of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) were investigated and optimum conditions as initial treatment time, concentrations and treatment durations of hormone were evaluated in this study. For the study of the optimum initial treatment time, 0 to 20-day-old fry were treated by immersion in a 500 ppb solution of $17{\alpha}-MT$. Desirable results were obtained at 12-day-old fish as $86.4\%$ of male induction rates and this frequency was obviously higher than the other age groups. Twelve-day-old fry were immersed in $17{\alpha}-MT$ solutions at concentrations of $0\~2,000$ ppb for 24 hours for the study of dose dependent relationship between sex ratios and concentrations of $17{\alpha}-MT$, Male induction rates of all treated groups were higher than $80\%$, $X^2$ values against the sex ratio of control group indicate that sex reversal has taken place effectively in all experimental groups (P<0.001). Futhermore, 500 ppb treated groups showed highest male incidence of $86.4\%$. Effects of 5 different durations (0, 12, 18, 24 and 30 hours) treated with 1,000 ppb of $17{\alpha}-MT$ were also evaluated. Male induction rate from 0 to 24 hours treated group was increased with treatment durations. However, male incidence of 30-hour treated group ($84.0\%$) was sligthly decreased compare to the 24-hour treated group ($85.2\%$). It is concluded that immersion treatment using $17{\alpha}-MT$ on O. niloticus is possible on sex reversal at low concentration of 500 ppb and short treatment durations within 24 hours with 12-old-day fry.

• The Journal of Korean Institute of Electromagnetic Engineering and Science
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• v.19 no.8
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• pp.862-877
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• 2008

In this paper, two types of wideband 3-dB ring hybrids are compared and discussed to show the ring hybrid with a set of coupled-line sections better. However, the better one still has a realization problem that perfect matching can be achieved only with -3 dB coupling power. To solve the problem, a set of coupled-line sections with two shorts is synthesized using one- and two-port equivalent circuits and design equations are derived to have perfect matching, regardless of the coupling power. Based on the design equations, a modified ${\Pi}-type$ of transmission-line equivalent circuit is newly suggested. It consists of coupled-line sections with two shorts and two open stubs and can be used to reduce a transmission-line section, especially when its electrical length is greater than ${\pi}$. Therefore, the $3\;{\lambda}/4$ transmission-line section of a conventional ring hybrid can be reduced to less than ${\pi}/2$. To verify the modified ${\Pi}-type$ of transmission- line equivalent circuit, two kinds of simulations are carried out; one is fixing the electrical length of the coupled-line sections and the other fixing its coupling coefficient. The simulation results show that the bandwidths of resulting small transmission lines are strongly dependent on the coupling power. Using modified and conventional ${\Pi}-types$ of transmission-line equivalent circuits, a small ring hybrid is built and named a compact wideband coupled-line ring hybrid, due to the fact that a set of coupled-line sections is included. One of compact ring hybrids is compared with a conventional ring hybrid and the compared results demonstrate that the bandwidth of a proposed compact ring hybrid is much wider, in spite of being more than three times smaller in size. To test the compact ring hybrids, a microstrip compact ring hybrid, whose total transmission-line length is $220^{\circ}$, is fabricated and measured. The measured power divisions($S_{21}$, $S_{41}$, $S_{23}$ and $S_{43}$) are -2.78 dB, -3.34 dB, -2.8 dB and -3.2 dB, respectively at a design center frequency of 2 GHz, matching and isolation less than -20 dB in more than 20 % fractional bandwidth.