• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
• /
• v.30 no.5B
• /
• pp.487-495
• /
• 2010

Soil moisture is a crucial factor in hydrological system which influences runoff, energy balance, evaporation, and atmosphere. United States National Aeronautic and Space Administration (NASA) and Department of Agriculture (USDA) have established Soil Moisture Experiment (SMEX) since 2002 for the global observations. SMEX provides useful data for the hydrological science including soil moisture and hydrometeorological variables. The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between remotely sensed soil moisture data from aircraft and satellite and ground based experiment. C-band of Polarimetric Scanning Radiometer (PSR) that observed the brightness temperature provides soil moisture data using a retrieval algorithm. It was compared with the In-situ data for 2-30 cm depth at four sites. The most significant depth is 2-10 cm from the correlation analysis. Most of the sites, two data are similar to the mean of data at 10 cm and the median at 7 cm and 10 cm at the 10% significant level using the Rank Sum test and t-test. In general, soil moisture data using the C-band of the PSR was established to fit the Normal, Log-normal and Gumbel distribution. Soil moisture data using the aircraft and satellites will be used in hydrological science as fundamental data. Especially, the C-band of PSR will be used to prove soil moisture at 7-10 cm depths.

• Annals of Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery
• /
• v.26 no.4
• /
• pp.363-374
• /
• 2022

Backgrounds/Aims: To analyze the results of the neoadjuvant treatment of patients in our center with early pancreatic cancer. Methods: Eighty-four patients with early pancreatic cancer (I-II) were included, of which 59 were considered "bioborderline" (carbohydrate antigen [CA] 19-9 > 37 U/L), and 25 were considered "non-bioborderline" (CA19-9 < 37 U/L). The R0 resection rate, presence of negative nodes, survival, and recurrence rates were analyzed in two groups, the NEO group (neoadjuvant + surgery) and the nonNEO group (upfront surgery). Results: A 28.6% pathologic complete response was observed in the NEO group of the whole sample. The residual R0 was 85.7%, and nodes were negative in 78.6% of the patients in the NEO group of bioborderline patients. All non-bioborderline patients treated with neoadjuvant were R0, and no affected nodes were observed in any of them. The median overall survival (OS) in patients with elevated CA19-9 levels in the NEO group was 31.4 months vs. 13.1 months in the non-NEO (log-rank test p = 0.006), with a 62% relative reduction in the mortality rate (hazard ratio = 0.38, 95% confidence interval: 0.20-0.79; p= 0.008). The median OS in patients with normal CA19-9 levels in the NEO group was 65.9 months vs. 16.2 months in the non-NEO group, without statistically significant differences between the two but with a trend toward significance (log-rank test p = 0.08). Conclusions: A neoadjuvant strategy seemed to improve local control and the survival of patients with early pancreatic cancer, both those with elevated CA19-9 and normal marker levels.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
• /
• v.22 no.7
• /
• pp.1152-1162
• /
• 2021

Objective: This study aimed to determine whether there are regional differences in the blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability of cognitively normal elderly participants and to identify factors influencing BBB permeability with a clinically feasible, 10-minute dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE) MRI protocol. Materials and Methods: This IRB-approved prospective study recruited 35 cognitively normal adults (26 women; mean age, 64.5 ± 5.6 years) who underwent DCE T1-weighted imaging. Permeability maps (K_trans) were coregistered with masks to calculate the mean regional values. The paired t test and Friedman test were used to compare Ktrans between different regions. The relationships between K_trans and the factors of age, sex, education, cognition score, vascular risk burden, vascular factors on imaging, and medial temporal lobar atrophy were assessed using Pearson correlation and the Spearman rank test. Results: The mean permeability rates of the right and left hippocampi, as assessed with automatic segmentation, were 0.529 ± 0.472 and 0.585 ± 0.515 (K_trans, x 10^-3 min^-1), respectively. Concerning the deep gray matter, the K_trans of the thalamus was significantly greater than those of the putamen and hippocampus (p = 0.007, p = 0.041). Regarding the white matter, the K_trans value of the occipital white matter was significantly greater than those of the frontal, cingulate, and temporal white matter (p < 0.0001, p = 0.0007, p = 0.0002). The variations in K_trans across brain regions were not related to age, cognitive score, vascular risk burden, vascular risk factors on imaging, or medial temporal lobar atrophy in the study group. Conclusion: Our study demonstrated regional differences in BBB permeability (K_trans) in cognitively normal elderly adults using a clinically acceptable 10-minutes DCE imaging protocol. The regional differences suggest that the integrity of the BBB varies across the brains of cognitively normal elderly adults. We recommend considering regional differences in K_trans values when evaluating BBB permeability in patients with neurodegenerative diseases.

• Journal of Radiation Industry
• /
• v.17 no.4
• /
• pp.397-403
• /
• 2023

The purpose of this study is to obtain brain MRI images through Heavenly T₂ FLAIR and DWI techniques to find out strengths and weaknesses of each image. Data were analyzed on 13 normal people and 17 brain tumor patients. Philips Ingenia 3.0TCX was used as the equipment used for the inspection, and 32 Channel Head Coil was used to acquire data. Using Image J and Infinity PACS Data, 3mm² of gray matter, white matter, cerebellum, basal ganglia, and tumor areas were set and measured. Quantitative analysis measured SNR and CNR as an analysis method, and qualitative analysis evaluated overall image quality, lesion conspicuity, image distortion, susceptibility artifact and ghost artifact on a 5-point scale. The statistical significance of data analysis was that Wilcox-on Signed Rank Test and Paired t-test were executed, and the statistical program used was SPSS ver.22.0 and the p value was less than 0.05. In quantitative analysis, the SNR of gray matter, white matter, cerebellum, basal ganglia, and tumor of Heavily T₂ FLAIR is 41.45±0.13, 40.52±0.45, 41.44±0.51, 40.96±0.09, 35.28±0.46 and the CNR is 15.24±0.13, 16.75±0.23, 16.28±0.41, 15.83±0.17, 16.63±0.51. In DWI, SNR is 32.58±0.22, 36.75±0.17, 30.21±0.19, 35.83±0.11, 43.29±0.08, and CNR is 13.14±0.63, 14.21±0.31, 12.95±0.32, 11.73±0.09, 17.56±0.52. In normal tissues, Heavenly T₂ FLAIR obtained high results, but in disease evaluation, high results were obtained at DWI, b=1000 (p<0.05). In addition, in the qualitative analysis, overall image quality, lesion conspicuity, image distortion, susceptibility artifact and ghost artifact aspects of the Heavily T₂ FLAIR were evaluated, and 3.75±0.28, 2.29±0.24, 3.86±0.23, 4.08±0.21, 3.79±0.22 values were found, respectively, and 2.53±0.39, 4.13±0.29, 1.90±0.20, 1.81±0.21, 1.52±0.45 in DWI. As a result of qualitative analysis, overall image quality, image distortion, susceptibility artifact and ghost artifact were rated higher than DWI. However, DWI was evaluated higher in lesion conspicuity (p<0.05). In normal tissues, the level of Heavenly T₂ FLAIR was higher, but the DWI technique was higher in the evaluation of the disease (tumor). The two results were necessary techniques depending on the normal site and the location of the disease. In conclusion, statistically significant results were obtained from the two techniques. In quantitative and qualitative analysis, the two techniques had advantages and disadvantages, and in normal and disease evaluation, the two techniques produced useful results. These results are believed to be educational data for clinical basic evaluation and MRI in the future.

• Health Policy and Management
• /
• v.9 no.3
• /
• pp.95-112
• /
• 1999

The objectives of this study were to develop the therapeutic recreation programs for relieving depressive symptoms of the elderly and to verify the effect on their psychological condition. The key elements of these programs, which consisted of 9 sessions. were aerobic exercises, group dynamics. and making fun. These programs were developed through a multidisciplinary approach with social workers and the faculties of preventive medicine. The social workers gave these programs to fifteen elderly people at the community center, so called noinjung, for 9 weeks. Before intervention of this program for the experimental group, the baseline was measured by GDS(geriatric depression scale). After intervention for 9 weeks, GDS as an outcome was measured to evaluate the effects of the program. This data was analyzed by $X^2$-test and Wilcoxon signed rank test. and the results were as follows: 1. Based upon the cutting point(GDS = 5) which could distinguish between depression group and normal group, the number for the normal group increased, while the number for the depression group decreased slightly after intervention with the therapeutic recreation programs, however, there was no significant change(p〉0.05). 2. The score of GDS decreased significantly after intervention with the therapeutic recreation programs(p〈0.05). 3. The scores of GDS decreased in widow(or) group and in female group compared to those of the married group and the male group, respectively(p〈0. 05). 4. The score of GDS increased in groups with similar labor and emotional support compared to those of groups with sufficient or less support, respectively(p〈0.05), These findings indicate that the therapeutic recreation programs might be effective for relieving depressive symptoms of the elderly. It is, therefore, suggested that this program be modified and standardized through review of the intervening process, experimental results, and responses of clients for appling in other noinjungs.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
• /
• v.45 no.5
• /
• pp.595-611
• /
• 2013

This paper aims to compare three collocation point methods associated with the odd order stochastic response surface method (SRSM) in a systematical and quantitative way. The SRSM with the Hermite polynomial chaos is briefly introduced first. Then, three collocation point methods, namely the point method, the root method and the without origin method underlying the odd order SRSMs are highlighted. Three examples are presented to demonstrate the accuracy and efficiency of the three methods. The results indicate that the condition that the Hermite polynomial information matrix evaluated at the collocation points has a full rank should be satisfied to yield reliability results with a sufficient accuracy. The point method and the without origin method are much more efficient than the root method, especially for the reliability problems involving a large number of random variables or requiring complex finite element analysis. The without origin method can also produce sufficiently accurate reliability results in comparison with the point and root methods. Therefore, the origin often used as a collocation point is not absolutely necessary. The odd order SRSMs with the point method and the without origin method are recommended for the reliability analysis due to their computational accuracy and efficiency. The order of SRSM has a significant influence on the results associated with the three collocation point methods. For normal random variables, the SRSM with an order equaling or exceeding the order of a performance function can produce reliability results with a sufficient accuracy. The order of SRSM should significantly exceed the order of the performance function involving strongly non-normal random variables.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.16 no.8
• /
• pp.3131-3135
• /
• 2015

Objective: To investigate whether the expression of serum soluble neural cell adhesion molecule (sNCAM) is associated with hepatic encephalopathy (HE) in hepatocelular carcinoma (HCC) patients. Materials and Methods: The Oncomine Cancer Microarray database was used to determine the clinical relevance of NCAM expression in different kinds of human cancers. Sera from 75 HCC cases enrolled in this study were assessed for expression of sNCAM by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results: Dependent on the Oncomine Cancer Microarray database analysis, NCAM was down regulated in 10 different kinds of cancer, like bladder cancer, brain and central nervous system cancer, while up-regulated in lung cancer, uterine corpus leiomyoma and sarcoma, compared to normal groups. Puzzlingly, NCAM expression demonstrated no significant difference between normal and HCC groups. However, we found by quantitative ELISA that the level of sNCAM in sera from HCC patients with HE ($347.4{\pm}151.9ng/ml$) was significantly more up-regulated than that in HCC patients without HE ($260.3{\pm}104.2ng/ml$), the p-value being 0.008. sNCAM may be an important risk factor of HE in HCC patients, the correlation coefficients was 0.278 (P<0.05) on rank correlation analysis. Conclusions: This study highlights that up-regulated level of serum sNCAM is associated with HE in HCC patients and suggests that the high expression can be used as an indicator.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
• /
• v.41 no.4
• /
• pp.403-406
• /
• 2014

Background Perforations in the nasal septum (NSP) give rise not only to disintegration of the septum anatomy but also impairment in normal nasal physiology. The successes of these surgical techniques are usually equated to anatomical closure of the perforation. The goal of this study is to evaluate the subjective and objective results of our surgical technique for septal perforation surgery. Methods All NSPs in the six patients were closed by inferior turbinate flap. The Nasal Obstruction Symptom Evaluation (NOSE) instrument was used to evaluate the preoperative and postoperative subjective sensation of nasal obstruction. Measurement of preoperative and postoperative nasal airway resistance was performed using active anterior rhinomanometry which is an objective test. Wilcoxson signed rank test and Spearman correlation test were used to analyze correlation between NOSE scores and rhinomanometric measurements. Results The full closure of the septal perforations was noted in 100% of patients. The total NOSE score was 14 preoperatively and one postoperatively. The improvement in NOSE scores was statistically significant ($P{\leq}0.002$). The mean preoperative total resistance (ResT150) value was $0.13Pa/cm^3s^{-1}$, which is below the normal range ($0.16-0.31Pa/cm^3s^{-1}$), while the mean postoperative ResT150 value was $0.27Pa/cm^3s^{-1}$. The correlation between the improvement in NOSE scores and improvements in ResT150 values was statistically significant. Conclusions Surgical approaches should aim to solve both the anatomical and physiological problems of NSP. The application of subjective and objective tests in the postoperative period will help surgeons assess the applied techniques.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
• /
• v.21 no.6
• /
• pp.37-50
• /
• 2004

Objective : In this study, we investigated the effects of Hwangryunhaedoktang Herbal-acupuncture(HHT) at a acupoint, $G_{21}$(Kyonjong) on the Heart Rate Variability(HRV) in adults, as well as we tried to observe how HHT affects on the balance of the autonomic nervous system. Methods : The subject were comprised of 20 healthy adults, who didn't take any drugs which affected on the autonomic nervous system and had normal sinus rhythm in electrocardiogram. The control group was comprised of 9 subjects, who were injected normal saline at $G_{21}$(Kyonjong). The experiment group consisted of 10 subjects, who were injected HHT at $G_{21}$(Kyonjong). We measured HRV by CANS 3000 on three times : before, immediately after, and 20 minutes after injection. The SPSS 10.0 for windows was used to analyze the date and the Wilcoxon signed rank test (in group) and Mann-Whitney U-test(between two groups) were used to verify the results. Results : The following results were obtained ; 1. In each group, Mean-HRV and Mean-RR showed a significant change during 20 minutes after injection. But there were no significant difference between two groups(p>0.05). 2. In experiment group, 20 minutes after injection, norm LF and LHR showed a significant decrease and norm HF showed a significant increase. There were significant difference between two groups(p<0.05). Conclusions : The findings suggest that HHT at $G_{21}$(Kyonjong) in adults relatively activate parasympathetic nervous system and inactivate sympathetic nervous system.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
• /
• v.30 no.2
• /
• pp.153-164
• /
• 2020

Objectives This study is designed to evaluate the safety of Soshihotang soft extract in healthy male volunteers. Methods 12 healthy male volunteers were recruited and this study was carried out by a single center. Laboratory test results, vital signs of the volunteers were collected to evaluate safety. According to registration order, the 12 subjects were allocated by serial number. To evaluate safety, blood samples were taken and vital signs were checked 4 times-screening, pre administration, post administration and follow up-during the whole trial. The incidence of all adverse effects are shown in percentage. The mean and standard deviation were used to to describe and summarize continuous data. To evalate the effectiveness of the intervention, data of blood tests was analyzed by Wilcoxon signed rank test or paired T-test (p<0.05). Results In the case of red blood cell, hemoglobin, hematocrit, neutrophils, protein, albumin, alkaline phosphatase, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, γ-glutamyl transpeptidase values, the normality test result of the variable for the difference value before and after the dosing has a significance level <0.05. But most of values did not deviate from the normal range, and the deviation from the normal range could not be regarded as the significance associated with this clinical trial. And adverse event wasn't observed associated with the clinical trial drug. Conclusions Soshihotang soft extract were considered to be safe for healthy male volunteers.