• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.356-363
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• 2010

Background: Connexin 43-mediated gap junctional communication plays an important role in atherosclerosis. Numerous studies have demonstrated a correlation between mitral valve annular calcification and atherosclerotic disease. However, the relevance of connexin 43 to mitral valve disease remains unclear. We hypothesized that the mechanism contributing to mitral valve disease is associated with alterations in cell-to-cell communication mediated by changes in Connexin 43 expression. Material and Method: Twenty male New Zealand rabbits were divided into two groups: animals in group 1 (n=10) were fed a normal chow diet, whilst those in group 2 (n=10) received a diet containing 1% cholesterol for 12 weeks. After sacrificing the animals, the mitral valves were excised and analyzed with immunohistochemical staining and Real-time Reverse Transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (real time RT-PCR). Result: Myofibroblasts and macrophages were found concentrated within the endothelial layer on the ventricular side of the leaflet in the cholesterol diet group. Immunohistochemial staining showed elevated expression of connexin43 in the cholesterol diet group. Real-time RT-PCR revealed increased connexin43 mRNA levels in mitral valves from hypercholesterolemic animals. Conclusion: Our finding that connexin43 expression is increased in mitral valves of hypercholesterolemic rabbits suggests that alterations in cell-to-cell communication via connexin43 containing gap junctions play a role in the development of mitral valve disease in hypercholesterolemia.

• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.177-183
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• 1999

This study was conducted to observe the spawning behavior and early life history of chinese minnow, Rhynchocypris oxycephalus reared in the laboratory. The spawning period of Rhynchocypris oxycephalus is from May to June in nature. The eggs of Rhynchocypris oxycephalus were spawned on the sand and surface of the gravel. The fertilization eggs were demersal in shape and adhesive, released as a clump forming a thin layer and their diameter were 1.70~1.90mm (mean 1.80 mm, n=20). Hatching of eggs was started in 88 hour 45 minute after fertilization at water temperature $19{\pm}0.5^{\circ}C$ and finished in 90 hour. Newly-hatched larvae were measured 4.87~5.02 mm in total length (TL, mean 4.94 mm), mouth and anus were not opened. 6 days old larvae were 6.32~6.56 mm in TL (mean 6.44 mm). Yolk sac was almost absorbed, mouth and anus was began to open. 13 days old larvae were 6.74~6.91 mm in TL (mean 6.82 mm). Part of Dorsal fin was began to rising and myomere number was 15+23=38. 25 days after hatching, total length of larvae was 8.45~8.60 mm (mean 8.52 mm). Dorsal and anal fin rays became differentiated, and also caudal part of the notocord flexion was achieved at $45^{\circ}C$. In the time, growth rate was higher than the other stage. Aggregate numbers of all fin rays were completed at 16.39~16.57 mm in TL (60 days after hatching), at which time the larvae reached the juvenile stage, but fin-fold on ventral was remained yet. External features of adult specimens were almost completed at 80 day old juveniles (18.69~18.87 mm in TL).

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.4 no.4
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• pp.272-276
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• 2004

Purpose: The incidence of nodal metastases is as low as 2 to $20\%$ in early gastric cancer, so there is a trend to lessen the extent of surgery. In addition, the adequate range for a lymphadenectomy is controversial, especially in early gastric cancer. In this study, we tried to find the minimal range for a lymphadenectomy by analyzing sentinel-node and solitary lymph-node metastases in gastric cancer. Materials and Methods: The total of 78 patients who underwent a curative gastrectomy with a D2 lymphadenectomy for early gastric cancer between 2000 and 2002 in the Department of Surgery, Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea, were included for the evaluation of sentinel-node metastases.. After a laparotomy, 25 mg of indocyanine green was mixed in 5 ml of normal saline, and all the dye was injected into the subserosal layer around the primary tumor. All nodes stained within 5 minutes were marked. In addition, a total of 141 patients, who underwent a curative gastrectomy between 1997 and 2001 at the Department of Surgery, Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea, were analyzed for solitary lymph- node metastases. Results: Among the 78 patients, sentinel nodes were detected in 69 patients ($88.5\%$). The sentinel nodes in 60 cases ($87.0\%$) were located in the perigastric area. However, 9 cases ($13.0\%$) had sentinel nodes in the N2 group. In the 141 cases that had a solitary metastatic node, 125 cases ($88.6\%$) demonstrated the metastatic lymph node in the perigastric area, and 16 cases ($11.4\%$) showed that the metastatic node in the N2 group. Conclusion: Taken together, removal of a perigastric lymph node could miss early metastases in gastric cancer, so a D1 lymphadenectomy should not be the minimal range of dissection if a lymphadenectomy is necessary. (J Korean Gastric Cancer Assoc 2004;4:272-276)

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.34-44
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• 1998

Analysis of gravity, magnetic, and seismic reflection data from the Ulleung Basin, East Sea has provided some insights into the opening mechanism and crustal type of the basin. Free-air gravity anomaly data show positive anomalies of about 40~60 mgal near the Korea Plateau and Oki Bank and of about -20~20 mgal in the central basin. Bouguer gravity anomaly data exhibit NE-SW trending positive anomalies of about 150 mgal in the central basin which is interpreted to be related to high-density crustal material. Abrupt changes in both Free-air and Bouguer gravity anomaly profiles across the basin margins may be due to transition between continental and oceanic crusts. Magnetic anomalies in the basin are generally less than -400 nT. No stripe pattern is evident in the magnetic anomaly map but a NW-SE trending symmetric pattern is seen in some magnetic profiles. The symmetric pattern is probably associated with the high-density crustal material in the central basin suggested by Bouguer gravity anomaly. The acoustic basement in the deep part of the basin has only a small amount of local relief. No graben or half-graben structures are seen in the acoustic basement from which mechanical extension might be inferred. The lack of high-relief structures in the acoustic basement may suggest that the basin is underlain by oceanic crust or that the basement is overlain by thick volcanic layer which obscures the structures and relief of the basement. High-density crust in the central basin inferred from gravity data, abrupt changes in gravity anomalies across the basin margins, symmetric pattern seen in some magnetic anomaly profiles, and lack of relief in the acoustic basement may suggest sea-floor spreading origin of the Ulleung Basin.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.19-36
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• 2013

Physiochemical characters of sea waters during summer flood- and winter dry-seasons and their spatial variations were investigated along the coastal area off the eastern South Sea, Korea. Using the hierarchical clustering method, in this study, we present comprehensive analyses of coastal waters masses and their seasonal variations. The results revealed that the coastal water of the study area was classified into six water masses (A to F). During summer season, the surface water was mainly occupied by the coastal pseudo-estuarine water (water mass B) with low salinity and high nutrients and the river-dominated coastal water (water mass C) with low nutrients, respectively. The bottom water was dominated by cold water (water mass D) with very low temperature, high salinity and high nutrients, compared to masses of surface water. Notably, the water mass B, with high concentrations of nutrients (silicate and nitrogen) and low salinity, which is strongly controlled by the water quality of river freshwater, seems to play an important role in controlling the water quality and further regulating physical processes on ecosystem in the eastern coastal area of South Sea. The water mass D (bottom cold water) coupled with a strong thermocline, which exists in near-bottom layer along the western margin of Korea Strait, has a low temperature, pH and DO, but abundant nutrients. This water mass disappears in winter owing to strong vertical mixing, and subsequently may act as a pool for nutrients during winter dry-season. On the other hand, vertically well-mixed water column during the winter season was typically occupied by the Tsushima (water mass E) and the coastal water (water mass F) with a development of coastal front formed in a transition zone between them. These winter water masses were characterized by low nutrient concentration and balance in N/P ratio, compared with summer season with high nutrient concentrations and strong N-limitation. Accordingly, the analysis of water masses will help one to better chemical and biological processes in coastal area. In most of the study area, characteristically, the growth of phytoplankton community is limited by nitrogen, which is clearly different with coastal environment of West Sea of Korea, with a relative lack of phosphorus. It showed the western and the southern coasts in Korea are substantially different from each other in environmental and ecological characteristics.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.105-113
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• 2006

This study peformed to confirm the corrected dose In different electron density materials using the superposition/FFT convolution method in radiotherapy Planning system. The experiments of the $K_2HPO_4$ diluted solution for bone substitute, Cork for lung and n-Glucose for soft tissue are very close to effective atomic number of tissue materials. The image data acquisited from the 110 KVp and 130 KVp CT scanner (Siemes, Singo emotions). The electron density was derived from the CT number (H) and adapted to planning system (Xio, CMS) for heterogeneity correction. The heterogeneity tissue phantom used for measurement dose comparison to that of delivered computer planning system. In the results, this investigations showed the CT number is highly affected in photoelectric effect in high Z materials. The electron density in a given energy spectrum showed the relation of first order as a function of H in soft tissue and bone materials, respectively. In our experiments, the ratio of electron density as a function of H was obtained the 0.001026H+1.00 in soft tissue and 0.000304H+1.07 for bone at 130 KVp spectrum and showed 0.000274H+1.10 for bone tissue in low 110 KVp. This experiments of electron density calibrations from CT number used to decide depth and length of photon transportation. The Computed superposition and FFT convolution dose showed very close to measurements within 1.0% discrepancy in homogeneous phantom for 6 and 15 MV X rays, but it showed -5.0% large discrepancy in FFT convolution for bone tissue correction of 6 MV X rays. In this experiments, the evaluated doses showed acceptable discrepancy within -1.2% of average for lung and -2.9% for bone equivalent materials with superposition method in 6 MV X rays. However the FFT convolution method showed more a large discrepancy than superposition in the low electron density medium in 6 and 15 MV X rays. As the CT number depends on energy spectrum of X rays, it should be confirm gradient of function of CT number-electron density regularly.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.57 no.3
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• pp.238-247
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• 2012

To determine the possibility of solidified se wage sludge for use as a soil cover material in reclaimed land, the growth of energy crops and soil chemical properties investigated in each experimental plots during 2 years (2010 and 2011). The experimental plots consisted of the mixing with solidified sewage sludge plot (SS50), the covering with solidified sewage sludge plot (SS100), and the original reclaimed land plot (ORL) on reclaimed land for the intended landfill in Sudokwon Landfill Site Management Corporation (SLC). Plant height, measured in the second year (2011), was highest in the Geodae 1 grown at plots treated with solidified sewage sludge. The growth of energy crops cultivated in both SS50 and SS100 were better than in ORL. The contents of organic matter (OM) and total nitrogen (T-N) at both SS50 and SS100 were considerably higher than that of the ORL over 2 years. However, the soil from ORL showed higher salinity with high contents of exchangeable $Na^+$ cation than that of SS50 and SS100 over 2 years. We consider that soil chemical and physical properties on reclaimed land used in this study could be improved by the application of solidified sewage sludge due to following reasons. Firstly, the application of solidified sewage sludge may provide soil nutrients on reclaimed land i.e. the growth of energy crops better than in ORL, resulted in more OM and T-N contents in SS50 and SS100. Secondly, the top layers mixed or covered with solidified sewage sludge on reclaimed land may be prevented the salinity accumulation due to capillary rise to surface soil, and improved the cultivation layer for effectively propagating the rhizomes of energy crops. Thus the solidified sewage sludge may be a great soil cover materials for cultivation of bioenergy crops in reclaimed land.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.57-63
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• 1980

The effect of particle size of silicate fertilizer, crushed slag from the steel industry, on the behavior of silicate in soil was investigated through laboratory experiments. The silicate fertilizer was sieved to obtain three fractions of particles, coarser than 10 mesh 20-35 mesh, and finer than 100 mesh. Silicate concentration of the extract obtained by shaking 20 mg of particles, coarser than 10 mesh, 20-35 mesh, and finer than 100 mesh, in 50 ml of distilled water for 4 hours was 0.3, 1.0, and 3.2 ppm respectively. As shaking the mixture of the silicate fertilizer and soil proceeded, silicate concentration of the extract increased, and this increase after 4 hour shaking was attributed mainly to dissolution of soil silicate. When the mixture of soil and the silicate fertilizer was incubated under submerged condition, silicate concentration of the solution decreased for the first 2-4 weeks, thereafter increased with incubation time. During this incubation period, silicate concentration of the solution changed inversely with pH of the solution. After 6-10 weeks, however, both silicate concentration and pH of the solution increased with incubation time. Silicate concentration of the effluent from the 14.5 cm soil column of which top 4.5 cm was packed with the mixture of 30 g of soil and 30 mg of the silicate fertilizer reached maximum at 0.94 pore volumes for the particles of 20-35 mesh and 1.03 pore volumes for the particles finer than 100 mesh, whereas the effluent concentration reached maximum at 0.88 pore volumes for the soil column without the silicate fertilizer treatment. Soil analysis made after water percolation revealed that 1.5 pore volumes of water could leach down large amount of the water soluble silicate but not the sodium acetate extractable silicate, from top 3-6 cm soil layer.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.161-165
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• 2000

Spectroradiometric light transmittance from 300 to 1,100nm in the greenhouse covered with the CEM BIO polyethylene film was greater than that in the greenhouse covered with polyethylene film (control). As a whole, solar radiation transmittance into greenhouse was a half level, due to shades caused by double layer covering, frame and equipment. Net radiation energy emitted throughout surface of the greenhouse covered with CEM BIO polyethylene film was 5,424.5W.m$^{-2}$ , which was lower by 2.9% as compared to that of the greenhouse covered with polyethylene film. Photosynthetically active radiation from 400 to 700nm of the greenhouse covered with CEM BIO polyethylene film was 3,861.2W.m$^{-2}$ , which was higher by 3.8% as compared to hat of the greenhouse covered with polyethylene film. Accumulated minimum air temperature from Oct. 7, 1997 to Oct. 16, 1997 of the greenhouse covered with CEM BIO polyethylene film was 100.5$^{\circ}C$, which was higher by 2.5$^{\circ}C$ as compared to that of the greenhouse covered with polyethylene film. As results, height, stem diameter, leaf count, leaf area, fresh weight and dry weight of green pepper plants and canopy production structure measured at 30 days after transplanting were enhanced. Mean fruit weight n the greenhouse covered with CEM BIO polyethylene film was 11.28 g and 1.25 g greater as compared to that in the greenhouse covered with polyethylene film, due to increased fruit diameter and flesh thickness. Percent marketable fruits produced in the greenhouse covered with CEM BIO polyethylene film were 96.1%, and was greater by 2.7% thant that of the greenhouse covered with polyethylnee film due to decreased infection, sterility, severe curve and twisted fruits. The green pepper yield of the greenhouse covered with CEM BIO polyethylene film from Nov. 19, 1997 to Feb. 3, 1998 was greater by 974 kg per hectare than that of the greenhouse covered with polyethylene film, but the total fruit had no difference.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural and Forest Meteorology
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.127-134
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• 1999

This study was performed to obtain the basic data to present rational silvicultural tending plan. It makes these widely distributed pine-oak mixed stand and each of pure stand in middle province on object of this study and do comparative analysis of light condition about stand parameter and natural regeneration according to each slope(north, west and south) conditions of location in central part of South Korea. Sample plots for pine-oak mixed stand and pine and oak pure stand were established on each of southern, northern and western slopes based upon site and growth conditions of the slope. Sample plot was a circle of 0.05ha with a diameter of 25.24 m. A sample plot has between 30 and 40 tree in it. Total 23 sample plots were established; 9 pure pine stands, 8 pine-oak mixed stands. and 6 pure oak stands across lower, middle, upper parts of slopes. Relative light intensity within a stand was' measured by crown- photo(fish-eye lens; 180$^{\circ}$) system through fish-eye lens and by comparing each plot with the denuded through PAR-sensor. The crown closure ratio of pure pine stand (75%) shows much lower than that of mixed stand (90.9%) and pure oak stand (93%). The relative light intensity within a stand showed an opposite result. The crown closure of mixed stands tended to become gradually low as the slope moves from the north to the south, but the relative light Intensity within the stand tended to rise. By analyzing the relationship between the relative light intensity within a stand and stand parameter, light intensity within a stand tended to decrease as the diameter and N/ha increase. Number of oak seedlings and light intensity within a stand is in a straight-line regression relation. In particular, the number of oak seedlings was the highest in mixed stands on the southern slope. But no single pine seedling was found. The unfavorable conditions of l0cm thick litter layer and low relative light intensity in a stand (ranging between 4% and 8%) is considered to prevent pine seeds from germinating.