• Phonetics and Speech Sciences
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.141-151
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• 2014

This study reports anti-hierarchical initial-syllable lengthening of an utterance-internal phrase in Korean. That is, the phrase-initial syllable (e.g., /a/ of "apa-do" or /ma/ of "mapa-do") starting with a voiced phoneme (i.e., vowels or voiced consonants) manifests itself as significantly longer when it is preceded by another phrase without a pause than when it leads an utterance or follows a pause utterance-internally. The phenomenon was examined with regard to two other factors: (1) tempo and (2) tenseness of the consonant (/p, $p^{\prime}$, $p^h$/) following the target syllable /a/. First, the effect of tempo on initial lengthening was not significant. Apart from the statistical significance, however, a tendency was observed, i.e., the slower the tempo is, the greater the lengthening. By contrast, the faster the tempo is, the higher the ratio (%) of lengthening. Second, contrary to our expectations, initial-syllable lengthening was even greater before tense stops /$p^{\prime}$, $p^h$/ than before lax stop /p/ regardless of tempo, and it was remarkable when it comes to the ratio (%), which means that initial lengthening is free of the pre-consonantal vowel shortening effect. Final-syllable lengthening is a pre-boundary marker, while the initial-syllable lengthening is regarded as a post-boundary marker of a phrase.

• Journal of the Society of Naval Architects of Korea
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.124-131
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• 2008

This paper presents the analysis of resistance performance and bow waves for the resistance-minimized hull form of small fishing boat by using numerical simulations and model tests. The resistance-minimized hull form is developed from an original hull form which is selected from existing small fisher boats in our country. In order to estimate the resistance performance for the original and the developed hull form, several numerical simulations and model tests are carried out. Marker and Cell(MAC) method and Marker-Density method are adopted to simulate the free-surface bow waves around advancing hull surface. The results of numerical simulations are compared with the model tests in towing tank. The results show that the resistance performance of the resistance-minimized hull form is improved than that of the original hull form. The results of this study will be a good guide to the hull form development of small fishing boats in future.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.341-351
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• 1999

Biochemical markers of bone turnover has received increasing attention over the past few years, because of the need for sensitive and specific tool in the clinical investigation of osteoporosis. Bone markers should be unique to bone, reflect changes of bone loss, and should be correlated with radiocalcium kinetics, histomorphometry, or changes in bone mass. The markers also should be useful in monitoring treatment efficacy. Although no bone marker has been established to meet all these criteria, currently osteocalcin and pyridinium crosslinks are the most efficient markers to assess the level of bone turnover in the menopausal and senile osteoporosis. Recently, N-terminal telopeptide (NTX), C-terminal telopeptide (CTX) and bone specific alkaline phosphatase are considered as new valid markers of bone turnover. Recent data suggest that CTX and free deoxypyridinoline could predict the subsequent risk of hiP fracture of elderly women. Treatment of postmenopausal women with estrogen, calcitonin and bisphosphonates demonstrated rapid decrease of the levels of bone markers that correlated with the long-term increase of bone mass. Factors such as circadian rhythms, diet, age, sex, bone mass and renal function affect the results of biochemical markers and should be appropriately adjusted whenever possible. Each biochemical markers of bone turnover may have its own specific advantages and limitations. Recent advances in research will provide more sensitive and specific assays.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.300-314
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• 2014

An ultra-performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-mass spectrometer (UPLC-ESI-MS) method was established for the simultaneous quantification of eighteen marker compounds in traditional Korean formula, Cheonwangbosimdan (CWBSD). In addition, we evaluated the antioxidant effects of CWBSD. Eighteen marker components were separated on a UPLC BEH $C_{18}$ analytical column ($2.1{\times}100mm$, $1.7{\mu}m$) and kept at $45^{\circ}C$ by gradient elution with 0.1% (v/v) formic acid in water and acetonitrile as mobile phase. The flow rate was 0.3 mL/min and the injection volume was $2.0{\mu}L$. The antioxidant activities of CWBSD were assessed by measuring free radical scavenging activities on 2,2'-azinobis-3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS) and 1-1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH). The calibration curves of all analytes showed good linearity (correlation coefficient ${\geq}0.9937$) within the test ranges. The limits of detection and quantification for the 18 marker compounds were 0.01-4.71 ng/mL and 0.03-14.13 ng/mL, respectively. The contents of the 18 compounds in CWBSD extract ranged from none to $1701.00{\mu}g/g$. The CWBSD showed the radical scavenging activity in a dose-dependent manner. The concentration required for 50% reduction ($RC_{50}$) against ABTS and DPPH radicals were $149.42{\mu}g/mL$ and $339.24{\mu}g/mL$.

• Interdisciplinary Bio Central
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.4.1-4.4
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• 2012

Background: Serum concentration of cystatin C, a marker of glomerular filtration has been associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD). The aim of this study was to evaluate cystatin C as a marker of obese patients without chronic kidney disease (CKD). Materials and Methods: The study population consisted of 36 subjects with metabolic syndrome and 32 subjects free of metabolic syndrome (the control group). HDL-C, LDL-C, blood urea, triglycerides, glucose, HbA1c, serum cystatin C and serum creatinine were measured in both groups. GFR was calculated in both groups using Cockroft-Gault equation. Results: Obese patients showed higher cystatin C levels than normal samples ($1.28{\pm}0.29$, P < 0.05). In the binary logistic regression, obese patients were significantly associated with elevated cystatin C levels. Conclusion: Our results suggest that cystatin C may be a marker for obese patients and may identify a certain degree of renal dysfunction even when serum creatinine does not exceed the normal level. In this study, we demonstrated that serum creatinineand GFR did not differ significantly between the diabetic and the control groups. Serum concentration of cystatin C was significantly higher in the diabetic group compared with the control group. The strengths of this study are the evaluation of reliability and sensivity in comparison with a 'routine test of GFR'. The methodology used allows an appropriate statistical comparison of reliability in contrast to most other previous evaluations of GFR.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.169-176
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• 1988

A retrospective study was performed on 15 patients with suprasellar germ cell tumors treated by megavoltage external beam irradiation between Feb. 1979 and Dec. 1985. Follow-up period of survivors was 30 to 91 months. Histologic diagnosis was obtained before radiation therapy in 10patients (9 germinomas and 1 mixed). Five patients were treated without histologic verification. In 9 patients with biopsy-proven germinomas radiation therapy was delivered to the craniospinal axis in 6, to the whole brain in 3. In 5 patients with mixed germ cell tumor or elevated tumor marker, irradiation was delievered to the craniospinal axis in 2, to the whole brain in 2, and to the primary site only in 1. Total doses ranged from 5,000 to 5,500 cGy to the primary site, 3,000 to 4,400 cGy to the whole brain, and 1,300 to 3,000 cGy to the spine. In these 14, local tumor was controlled and primary or spinal failure was not observed. One patient without elevated tumor marker was treated to the whole brain. The tumor was not controlled and he had spinal recurrence. Overall survival and disease-free survival rates were $86\%$ at 5 year. It is proven that radiation therapy is an effective treatment for suprasellar germ cell tumors. The neuroendocrinologic presentation, tumor marker status, early response to radiation measured on CT seem to be useful means for selecting patients for radiation therapy when tissue diagnosis is not available.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.33-37
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• 2012

Differential capacity of the parthenogenetic embryonic stem cells (PESCs) is still under controversy and the mechanisms of its neural induction are yet poorly understood. Here we demonstrated neural lineage induction of PESCs by addition of insulin-like growth factor-2 (Igf2), which is an important factor for embryo organ development and a paternally expressed imprinting gene. Murine PESCs were aggregated to embryoid bodies (EBs) by suspension culture under the leukemia inhibitory factor-free condition for 4 days. To test the effect of exogenous Igf2, 30 ng/ml of Igf2 was supplemented to EBs induction medium. Then neural induction was carried out with serum-free medium containing insulin, transferrin, selenium, and fibronectin complex (ITSFn) for 12 days. Normal murine embryonic stem cells derived from fertilized embryos (ESCs) were used as the control group. Neural potential of differentiated PESCs and ESCs were analyzed by immunofluorescent labeling and real-time PCR assay (Nestin, neural progenitor marker; Tuj1, neuronal cell marker; GFAP, glial cell marker). The differentiated cells from both ESC and PESC showed heterogeneous population of Nestin, Tuj1, and GFAP positive cells. In terms of the level of gene expression, PESC showed 4 times higher level of GFAP expression than ESCs. After exposure to Igf2, the expression level of GFAP decreased both in derivatives of PESCs and ESCs. Interestingly, the expression level of $Tuj1$ increased only in ESCs, not in PESCs. The results show that IGF2 is a positive effector for suppressing over-expressed glial differentiation during neural induction of PESCs and for promoting neuronal differentiation of ESCs, while exogenous Igf2 could not accelerate the neuronal differentiation of PESCs. Although exogenous Igf2 promotes neuronal differentiation of normal ESCs, expression of endogenous $Igf2$ may be critical for initiating neuronal differentiation of pluripotent stem cells. The findings may contribute to understanding of the relationship between imprinting mechanism and neural differentiation and its application to neural tissue repair in the future.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.29-38
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• 2017

Objectives The present study aimed to investigate the change in marker compounds, anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory effects of salt-water processed Cortex Eucommiae. Methods To evaluate the influence of processing on anti-oxidant effect of Cortex Eucommiae, changes in total phenol, total flavonoid, 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging, 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) (ABTS) free radical scavenging, and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) between processed and raw Cortex Eucommiae were assessed. In addition, nitrite assay was conducted to determine the influence of processing on anti-inflammatory effect of Cortex Eucommiae. Cell viability was also examined as to elucidate whether processing affects cytotoxicity of Cortex Eucommiae. Finally, high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis was conducted to monitor changes in pinoresinol diglucoside amount of processed and raw Cortex Eucommiae. Results Salt-water processed Cortex Eucommiae showed higher total phenol and flavonoid amount, compared to raw Cortex Eucommiae. Furthermore, anti-oxidative activity of processed Cortex Eucommiae was improved as discovered in DPPH, ABTS, and FRAP assays. Anti-inflammatory effect of Cortex Eucommiae was also enhanced following salt-water processing, as evidenced in nitrite assay. HPLC analysis found that the amount of pinoresinol diglucoside, widely known as the marker compound of Cortex Eucommiae, increases through salt-water processing. All experiments were performed with non-toxic concentration of Cortex Eucommiae; processing did not affect the cytotoxicity of Cortex Eucommiae up to the currently adopted concentration. Conclusions The present results support that salt-water processing of Cortex Eucommiae is beneficial in terms of marker compound amount, anti-oxidative, and anti-inflammatory activities. Additional investigations are needed to standardize the processing method of Cortex Eucommiae.

• The Journal of The Korea Institute of Intelligent Transport Systems
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.43-55
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• 2019

Smart phone based navigation applications are very useful in everyday life. Cost-effective and user friendly navigation can be provided to the user by many applications available in market. Using the Smart phone these navigation applications provide accurate navigation for outdoor locations. But providing an accurate navigation underground space such as subway station is still a challenge. It is hence more convenient and appropriate for mobility services if the visitors could simply view the guidance of the subway station on their mobile phone, wherever and whenever it is needed. This study develops a algorithm for indoor navigation with the help of Augmented Reality(AR) and QR marker code from the entrance to the train platform for users. This indoor navigation uses AR and QR maker codes for two purposes: to provide the user link to the subway station location and to provide the current guidance details to the user. This Smart phone algorithm that uses a smart phone optical tool to decode the QR marker to determine the location information and provide guidance to the AR without indoor Maps. This algorithm also provides a module to guide mobility vulnerable to the Barrier Free route to destination.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.11
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• pp.6845-6850
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• 2013

Background: This study was performed to gather data on second-hand smoke (SHS) concentrations in a range of public venues following the implementation of partial Smoke-Free Legislation in Malaysia in 2004. Materials and Methods: $PM_{2.5}$ was measured as a marker of SHS levels in a total of 61 restaurants, entertainment centres, internet caf$\acute{e}$s and pubs in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Results: Under the current smoke-free laws smoking was prohibited in 42 of the 61 premises. Active smoking was observed in nearly one-third (n=12) of these. For premises where smoking was prohibited and no active smoking observed, the mean (standard deviation) indoor $PM_{2.5}$ concentration was 33.4 (23.8) ${\mu}g/m^3$ compared to 187.1 (135.1) ${\mu}g/m^3$ in premises where smoking was observed The highest mean $PM_{2.5}$ was observed in pubs [361.5 (199.3) ${\mu}g/m^3$]. Conclusions: This study provides evidence of high levels of SHS across a range of hospitality venues, including about one-third of those where smoking is prohibited, despite 8 years of smoke-free legislation. Compliance with the legislation appeared to be particularly poor in entertainment centres and internet caf$\acute{e}$s. Workers and non-smoking patrons continue to be exposed to high concentrations of SHS within the hospitality industry in Malaysia and there is an urgent need for increased enforcement of existing legislation and consideration of more comprehensive laws to protect health.