• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• 제59권3호
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• pp.276-281
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• 2016

Objective : Although trunk muscles in the lumbar spine preserve spinal stability and motility, little is known about the relationship between trunk muscles and spinal fusion rate. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the correlation between trunk muscles cross sectional area (MCSA) and fusion rate after posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF) using stand-alone cages. Methods : A total of 89 adult patients with degenerative lumbar disease who were performed PLIF using stand-alone cages at L4-5 were included in this study. The cross-sectional area of the psoas major (PS), erector spinae (ES), and multifidus (MF) muscles were quantitatively evaluated by preoperative lumbar magnetic resonance imaging at the L3-4, L4-5, and L5-S1 segments, and bone union was evaluated by dynamic lumbar X-rays. Results : Of the 89 patients, 68 had bone union and 21 did not. The MCSAs at all segments in both groups were significantly different (p<0.05) for the PS muscle, those at L3-4 and L4-5 segments between groups were significantly different (p=0.048, 0.021) for the ES and MF muscles. In the multivariate analysis, differences in the PS MCSA at the L4-5 and L5-S1 segments remained significant (p=0.048, 0.043 and odds ratio=1.098, 1.169). In comparison analysis between male and female patients, most MCSAs of male patients were larger than female's. Fusion rates of male patients (80.7%) were higher than female's (68.8%), too. Conclusion : For PLIF surgery, PS muscle function appears to be an important factor for bone union and preventing back muscle injury is essential for better fusion rate.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• 제40권2호
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• pp.84-89
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• 2006

Objective : The purpose of this study is to compare the outcomes of two methods for stabilization and fusion : Postero-Lateral Fusion [PLF, pedicle screw fixation with bone graft] and Posterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion [PLIF, cage insertion] for spinal stenosis and recurred disc herniation except degenerative spondylolisthesis. Methods : Seventy one patients who underwent PLF [n=36] or PLIF [n=35] between 1997 and 2001 were evaluated prospectively. These two groups were compared for the change of interbody space, the range of segmental angle, the angle of lumbar motion, and clinical outcomes by Prolo scale. Results : The mean follow-up period was 32.6 months. The PLIF group showed statistically significant increase of the interbody space after surgery. However, the difference in the change of interbody space between two groups was insignificant [P value=0.05]. The range of segmental angle was better in the PLIF group, but the difference in the change of segmental angle was not statistically significant [P value=0.0l7]. Angle of lumbar motion was similar in the two groups. Changes of Prolo economic scale were not statistically significant [P value=0.193]. The PLIF group showed statistically significant improvement in Prolo functional scale [P value=0.003]. In Prolo economic and functional scale, there were statistically significant relationships between follow-up duration [P value<0.001]. change of interbody space [P value<0.001], and range of segmental angle [P value<0.001]. Conclusion : Results of this study indicate that PLIF is superior to PLF in interbody space augmentation and clinical outcomes by Prolo functional scale. Analysis of clinical outcomes showed significant relationships among various factors [fusion type, follow-up duration, change of interbody space, and range of segmental angle]. Therefore, the authors recommend instrumented PLIF to offer better clinical outcomes in patients who needed instrumented lumbar fusion for spinal stenosis and recurred disc herniation.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• 제60권6호
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• pp.676-683
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• 2017

Objective : The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of 3-level hybrid surgery (HS), which combines fusion and cervical disc replacement (CDR), compared to 3-level fusionin patient with cervical spondylosis involving 3 levels. Methods : Patients in the anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) group (n=30) underwent 3-level fusion and the HS group (n=19) underwent combined surgery with fusion and CDR. Clinical outcomes were evaluated using the visual analogue scale for the arm, the neck disability index (NDI), Odom criteria and postoperative complications. The cervical range of motion (ROM), fusion rate and adjacent segments degeneration were assessed with radiographs. Results : Significant improvements in arm pain relief and functional outcome were observed in ACDF and HS group. The NDI in the HS group showed better improvement 6 months after surgery than that of the ACDF group. The ACDF group had a lower fusion rate, higher incidence of device related complications and radiological changes in adjacent segments compared with the HS group. The better recovery of cervical ROM was observed in HS group. However, that of the ACDF group was significantly decreased and did not recover. Conclusion : The HS group was better than the ACDF group in terms of NDI, cervical ROM, fusion rate, incidence of postoperative complications and adjacent segment degeneration.

• BMB Reports
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• 제45권5호
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• pp.281-286
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• 2012

Osteoclasts are multinucleated cells that are formed by the fusion of pre-fusion osteoclasts (pOCs). The fusion of pOCs is known to be important for osteoclastic bone resorption. Here, we examined the effect of IFN-${\gamma}$ on the fusion of pOCs. IFN-${\gamma}$ greatly increased the fusion of pOCs in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, IFN-${\gamma}$ induced pOC fusion even in hydroxyapatite-coated plates used as a substitute for bone. The resorption area of pOCs stimulated with IFN-${\gamma}$ was significantly higher than that of the control cells. IFN-${\gamma}$ induced the expression of dendritic cell-specific transmembrane protein (DC-STAMP), which is responsible for the fusion of pOCs. IFN-${\gamma}$ enhanced DC-STAMP expression in a dose-dependent manner. The mRNA expression of c-Fos and nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT) c1 was enhanced in the pOCs treated with IFN-${\gamma}$. Taken together, these results provide a new insight into the novel role of IFN-${\gamma}$ on the fusion of pOCs.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• 제35권12호
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• pp.3509-3513
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• 2014

Phospholipase D (PLD) catalyzed the generation of phosphatidic acid (PA) from phosphatidylcholine (PC) at the outer layer of the vesicles prepared through layer by layer via a double emulsion technique. The generation induced a curvature change in the vesicles, which eventually led them to fuse each other. The ratio of two-fatty-acid-tail ethanolamine (PE) to one-fatty-acid-tail ethanolamine (PE) was found to acquire the condition where the mixed-phospholipid vesicles were stable identically with pure two-fatty-acid-tail PC. The effect of the outer-layer mixture on the PLD-induced vesicle fusion was investigated using the fluorescence intensity change. 8-Aminonaph-thalene-1,3,6-trisulfonic acid disodium salt (ANTS) and p-Xylene-bis(N-pyridinium bromide) (DPX) were encapsulated in the vesicles, respectively, for the quantification of the fusion. The fluorescence scale was calibrated with the fluorescence of a 1/1 mixture of ANTS and DPX vesicles in NaCl buffer taken as 100% fluorescence (0% fusion) and the vesicles containing both ANTS and DPX as 0% fluorescence (100% fusion), considering the leakage into the medium studied directly in a separate experiment using vesicles containing both ANTS and DPX. The fusion data for each composition were acquired with the subtraction of the leakage from the quenching. From the monitoring, the vesicle fusion caused by the PLD reaction seems dominantly to occur rather than the vesicle lysis, because the composition effect on the fusion was observed identically with that on the change in the vesicle structure. Furthermore, the diameter measurements also support the fusion dominancy.

• 인터넷정보학회논문지
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• 제8권4호
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• pp.1-9
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• 2007

본 논문에서는 무선 센서 네트워크에서 비 가우시안 채널 환경에서, 결정 융합 검출 규칙에 관한 연구를 수행하였다. 결정 융합에 대한 잡음 분포의 테일 특성이 갖는 영향을 고려하기 위하여 exponentially-tailed 분포를 사용하였다. 페이딩과 잡음 채널로 구성된 병렬 결정 융합 모델로부터 우도비율 기반 융합 규칙을 Neyman-Pearson 평가 하에서 최적화 규칙으로 고려하였으며, 이 최적화 규칙으로부터 높은 신호대 잡음비와 낮은 신호대 잡음비 근사를 통하여 몇 가지 준 최적화 규칙들을 구하였다. 또한 최소한의 사전 정보를 가지고 강인한 검파 성능을 제공하기 위하여 리미터 형태의 간략화 된 준 최적화 검출 규칙을 제안하였다. 모의실험을 통하여 결정 융합 규칙들의 성능을 비교 분석 하였으며 실험 결과들로부터 제안된 리미터 형태의 결정 융합 규칙의 강인성을 입증하였다.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• 제37권2호
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• pp.63-69
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• 2012

The second phase of the national program for fusion energy development in Korea starts from 2012 for design and construction of the fusion DEMO reactor. Radiological assessment for the fusion reactor is one of the key tasks to assure its licensability and the starting point of the assessment is determination of the source terms. As the first effort, the activities of the coolant due to activated corrosion product (ACP) were estimated. Data and experiences from fission reactors were used, in part, in the calculations of the ACP concentrations because of lack of operating experience for fusion reactors. The MCNPX code was used to determine neutron spectra and intensities at the coolant locations and the FISPACT code was used to estimate the ACP activities in the coolant of the fusion DEMO reactor. The calculated specific activities of the most nuclides in the fusion DEMO reactor coolant were 2-15 times lower than those in the PWR coolant, but the specific activities of $^{57}Co$ and $^{57}Ni$ were expected to be much higher than in the PWR coolant. The preliminary results of this study can be used to figure out the approximate radiological conditions and to establish a tentative set of radiological design criteria for the systems carrying coolant in the design phase of the fusion DEMO reactor.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• 제32권1호
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• pp.61-68
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• 2002

The objective of this study was to determine the incidence and distribution of root fusion as well as its sexlinkage in maxillary and mandibular molars. One hundred fifty patients who had eight maxillary and mandibular molars (third molars excluded) were consecutively selected for the study subjects. The subjects provided a total of 1200 molars, i.e., 600 maxillary and 600 mandibular molars. A decision about root fusion was made on the radiographic examination. If a molar had one root and/or roots fused at any part in the root surface, it was considered as having root fusion. The results showed that : (1) 14.1 % of the maxillary molars and 5.8 % of the mandibular molars had a fused root, (2) the prevalence of root fusion in the male was 33 % and 56.4 % in the female, (3) 60 % in the male and 48.8 % in the female had bilaterally paired root fusion, (4) the root fusion was most frequently observed in the maxillary second molar position, but none in the mandibular first position in this study. Within limitations of this study, it can be concluded that, in management of molars with a furcation problem, treatment options such as hemisection and root amputation should be chosen after careful evaluation of root fusion. Further studies are needed to investigate a possible relationship between root fusion and periodontal disease progression.

• Journal of Electrical Engineering and Technology
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• 제8권2호
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• pp.326-330
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• 2013

The Korea Superconducting Tokamak Advanced Research (KSTAR) device is an advanced superconducting tokamak to establish scientific and technological bases for attractive fusion reactor. This device requires 3.5 Tesla of toroidal field (TF) for plasma confinement, and requires a strong poloidal flux swing to generate an inductive voltage to produce and sustain the tokamak plasma. KSTAR was originally designed to have 16 serially connected TF magnets for which the nominal current rating is 35.2 kA. KSTAR also has 7 pairs of poloidal field (PF) coils that are driven to 1 MA/sec for generation of the tokamak plasma according to the operation scenarios. The KSTAR Magnet Power Supply (MPS) was dedicated to the superconducting (SC) coil commissioning and $2^{nd}$ plasma experiment as a part of the system commissioning. This paper will describe key features of KSTAR MPS for the $2^{nd}$ plasma experiment, and will also report the engineering and commissioning results of the magnet power supplies.

• 패션비즈니스
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• 제13권4호
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• pp.60-76
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• 2009

Expression of woman characters in fusion traditional dramas plays a role of making the progress of dramas not bigoted and new. Especially, woman characters have a high weight as a heroine by an increase in their image in fusion traditional dramas. Expression of characters harmonizing modern with tradition has also given a help in reflecting a trend of the present times. Hair style and face makeup of woman characters in fusion traditional dramas are in the process of fusionization getting an effect from postmodernism. They are expressing the hair style of symbolization modern elements of hair style to traditional hair styles. They also expressed a neutral image with faded hair styles in the shaggy cut style and dye of neoplaticism. Neo-hippie style was changed into the style of naturalism and nationalism and the hair style braided in various branches as the one of Indians was changed into a primitive and national feature. It is producing a new style by permitting even a long-hair permanent wave hair style. Expression of straight hair style, a long-hair shaggy & bulging wave style and a hair style of neoplaticism, was distinguished. In the side of face makeup, they expressed its luxurious and splendid style by attaching great importance to its luster and are exposing images of characters by a smoky makeup emphasizing eye lines. Their face makeup was almost never separated from present dramas as using pearl shadow in a glossy lips makeup and color, which made it possible to express it more dramatically in fusion traditional dramas than in present dramas. In the event of the makeup element of fusion traditional dramas permitting diversity, the character makeup of fusion traditional dramas made a foundation to show people diverse elements of makeup by mix & match a present elements and past elements of historical research, which made it possible to express a unique makeup or a special makeup. Diverse makeup expressions were limited by reflection of illumination even in the existing videos. Therefore, 'Fusion' made it possible to express it more freely in fusion traditional dramas than in present dramas.