• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.66 no.4
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• pp.307-317
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• 2021

In recent years, global warming has led to frequent climate change-related problems, and elevated temperatures, among adverse climatic factors, represent a critical problem negatively affecting crop growth and yield. In this context, the present study examined the physiological traits of wheat plants grown under high temperatures. Specifically, the effects of elevated temperatures on seed development after heading were evaluated, and the vegetation indices of different organs were assessed using hyperspectral analysis. Among physiological traits, leaf greenness and OJIP parameters were higher in the high-temperature treatment than in the control treatment. Similarly, the leaf photosynthetic rate during seed development was higher in the high-temperature treatment than in the control treatment. Moreover, temperature by organ was higher in the high-temperature treatment than in the control treatment; consequently, the leaf transpiration rate and stomatal conductance were higher in the control treatment than in the high-temperature treatment. On all measuring dates, the weight of spikes and seeds corresponding to the sink organs was greater in the high-temperature treatment than in the control treatment. Additionally, the seed growth rate was higher in the high-temperature treatment than in the control treatment 14 days after heading, which may be attributed to the higher redistribution of photosynthates at the early stage of seed development in the former. In hyperspectral analysis, the vegetation indices related to leaf chlorophyll content and nitrogen state were higher in the high-temperature treatment than in the control treatment after heading. Our results suggest that elevated temperatures after the booting stage positively affect wheat growth and yield.

• The Journal of Korean Society for Radiation Therapy
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• v.33
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• pp.89-97
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• 2021

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to compare and evaluate the dose change according to the gas volume variations in the rectum, which was not included in the treatment plan during radiation therapy for cervical cancer. Materials and methods: Static Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (S-IMRT) using a 9-field and Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy (VMAT) using 2 full-arcs were established with treatment planning system on Computed Tomography images of a human phantom. Random gas parameters were included in the Planning Target Volume(PTV) with a maximum change of 2.0 cm in increments of 0.5 cm. Then, the Conformity Index (CI), Homogeneity Index (HI) and PTV D_max for the target volume were calculated, and the minimum dose (D_min), mean dose (D_mean) and Maximum Dose (D_max) were calculated and compared for OAR(organs at risk). For statistical analysis, T-test was performed to obtain a p-value, where the significance level was set to 0.05. Result: The HI coefficients of determination(R²) of S-IMRT and VMAT were 0.9423 and 0.8223, respectively, indicating a relatively clear correlation, and PTV D_max was found to increase up to 2.8% as the volume of a given gas parameter increased. In case of OAR evaluation, the dose in the bladder did not change with gas volume while a significant dose difference of more than D_mean 700 cGy was confirmed in rectum using both treatment plans at gas volumes of 1.0 cm or more. In all values except for D_mean of bladder, p-value was less than 0.05, confirming a statistically significant difference. Conclusion: In the case of gas generation not considered in the reference treatment plan, as the amount of gas increased, the dose difference at PTV and the dose delivered to the rectum increased. Therefore, during radiation therapy, it is necessary to make efforts to minimize the dose transmission error caused by a large amount of gas volumes in the rectum. Further studies will be necessary to evaluate dose transmission by not only varying the gas volume but also where the gas was located in the treatment field.

• The Journal of Korean Society for Radiation Therapy
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• v.33
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• pp.35-46
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• 2021

Purpose : By comparing and analyzing treatment plans using abdominal compression and The Continuous Positive Air Pressure(CPAP) during SABR of lung cancer, we try to contribute to the improvement of radiotherapy effect. Materials & Methods : In two of the lung SABR patients(A, B patient), we developed a SABR plan using abdominal compression device(the Body Pro-Lok, BPL) and CPAP and analyze the treatment plan through homogeneity, conformity and the parameters proposed in RTOG 0813. Furthermore, for each phase, the X, Y, and Z axis movements centered on PTV are analyzed in all 4D CTs and compared by obtaining the volume and average dose of PTV and OAR. Four cone beam computed tomography(CBCT) were used to measure the directions from the center of the PTV to the intrathoracic contacts in three directions out of 0°, 90°, 180° and 270°, and compare the differences from the average distance values in each direction. Result : Both treatment plans obtained using BPL and CPAP followed recommendations from RTOG, and there was no significant difference in homogeneity and conformity. The X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis movements centered on PTV in patient A were 0.49 cm, 0.37 cm, 1.66 cm with BPL and 0.16 cm, 0.12 cm, and 0.19 cm with CPAP, in patient B were 0.22 cm, 0.18 cm, 1.03 cm with BPL and 0.14 cm, 0.11 cm, and 0.4 cm with CPAP. In A patient, when using CPAP compared to BPL, ITV decreased by 46.27% and left lung volume increased by 41.94%, and average dose decreased by 52.81% in the heart. In B patient, volume increased by 106.89% in the left lung and 87.32% in the right lung, with an average dose decreased by 44.30% in the stomach. The maximum difference of A patient between the straight distance value and the mean distance value in each direction was 0.05 cm in the a-direction, 0.05 cm in the b-direction, and 0.41 cm in the c-direction. In B patient, there was a difference of 0.19 cm in the d-direction, 0.49 cm in the e-direction, and 0.06 cm in the f-direction. Conclusion : We confirm that increased lung volume with CPAP can reduce doses of OAR near the target more effectively than with BPL, and also contribute more effectively to restriction of tumor movement with respiration. It is considered that radiation therapy effects can be improved through the application of various sites of CPAP and the combination with CPAP and other treatment machines.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.32 no.7
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• pp.532-541
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• 2022

Obesity induced by high-fat diet (HFD) is verified as a strong risk factor and negative prognostic factor for prostate cancer in several genetically engineered mice although it was not examined in the normal mice. To investigate whether HFD-induced obesity can affect the development and progression of cancer in the prostate of normal mice, alterations in the weight and histological structure of the prostate as well as the expression of cancer-related proteins were analyzed in obese C57BL/6N mice fed with 60% HFD for 16 weeks. First, HFD-induced obesity, including an increase in organ weight, body weight, fat accumulation, and serum lipid profile, was successfully induced in C57BL/6N mice after HFD treatment. The total weight of the prostate significantly increased HFD-induced obesity in the model mice compared with the control group. Among the four lobes of the prostate, the weight of the ventral prostate (VP) and anterior prostate (AP) were higher in HFD-induced obesity model mice than in the control group, although the weights of the lateral prostate (DLP) and seminal vesicle (SV) were constantly maintained. In addition, the incidences of hyperplasia and non-hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) in the histological structure were remarkably increased in HFD-induced obesity model mice, while the epithelial thickness was higher in the same group. A significant increase in the phosphorylation levels of key proteins in the AKT (protein kinase B) signaling pathway was detected in HFD-induced obesity model mice. Therefore, these results suggest that HFD-induced obesity can promote hyperplasia and NHL in the prostates of C57BL/6N mice through the activation of the AKT signaling pathway.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.49 no.2
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• pp.115-124
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• 2022

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of dietary coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) sources on the antioxidant defense system in the blood and liver of laying hens. Thirty-six 40-wk old Lohmann Brown hens were randomly assigned to three groups based on body weight, with four cages with three layers each. Laying hens were divided into one of the following groups: control (CON), powdered CoQ10 (PCoQ, 100 mg/kg diet), and emulsified CoQ10 (ECoQ, 100 mg/kg diet). All hens were fed a control diet or a control diet supplemented with powdered or emulsified CoQ10 ad libitum for five weeks. There were no differences in body weight, weight gain, and organ weights among the treatment groups, including the liver and spleen. The blood total antioxidant power (TAP) in the ECoQ group increased (P<0.05) by approximately 2-fold compared to that in the CON group. However, there was no significant difference in blood TAP levels between the PCoQ and ECoQ groups, although a decreasing trend (P<0.13) was observed for levels of TAP in the ECoQ group. The mRNA expression and specific activities of superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, and catalase in the liver were not affected by dietary CoQ10 or type of CoQ10. However, hepatic lipid peroxidation in the ECoQ group was lower (P<0.05) than in the CON group. In conclusion, emulsified CoQ10 increased blood TAP and decreased hepatic lipid peroxidation without affecting antioxidant enzymes, suggesting that emulsified CoQ10 might be more applicable as an active antioxidant supplement than powdered type in laying hens.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.16 no.6
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• pp.673-680
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• 2022

In this study, based on PLA, we analyzed the Hounsfield Unit (HU) of materials containing 20% each of aluminum, wood, copper, carbon, and marble, and tried to analyze how they affect the image. A cylindrical phantom of 5×30×30 ㎣ (thickness×diameter×height) was fabricated using a entry-level 3D printer. The kV was changed to 80, 100 and 120, and the mAs was changed to 100 and 200 mAs, and the phantom in the center of the table was cross-scanned under a total of six conditions. A circular ROI was set using image J program and the quantification value of the material part HU and the quantification value of the peripheral part CNR were obtained. The HU average of the material part increased in the order of [PLA - wood 20%], [PLA - marble 20%], [PLA - carbon 20%], [PLA 100%], [PLA - aluminum 20%], [PLA - copper 20%] (p<0.05) a negative correlation was confirmed with the HU by increasing kV. It was confirmed that the CNR value in the peripheral area increased in the order of [PLA - marble 20%], [PLA - copper 20%], [PLA - carbon 20%], [PLA - wood 20%], [PLA - aluminum 20%], and [PLA - 100%] (p<0.05). Human organs with similar HU values for each material are [PLA - copper 20%] compact bone, [PLA - aluminum 20%] cancellous bone, [PLA 100%] coagulated blood, [PLA - carbon 20%] and [PLA - marble 20%] liver, muscle, spleen and [PLA - wood 20%] had similar values to fat. In addition, we confirmed the blur phenomenon that blurs the image around the filament with all materials, and confirmed that [PLA 100%] especially has the most blur around the filament. Therefore, it is considered desirable to reflect the HU value of the target organ and consider cloudiness around the phantom when selecting materials for medical phantom fabrication, and this research can provide basic data.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Inherited Metabolic disease
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.7-14
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• 2021

Purpose: Pseudohypoparathyroidism (PHP) is caused by genetic and epigenetic alteration in the GNAS locus, and characterized by the resistance to multiple hormones and the Albright's hereditary osteodystrophy (AHO) phenotype. This study investigated the phenotypic characteristics and molecular features of PHP. Methods: Eight patients who diagnosed as PHP were enrolled at Pusan National University Children's hospital and clinical features, biochemical and genetic findings were retrospectively reviewed. Results: Of a total of 8 patients, 5 were diagnosed with PHP1a, and 3 were diagnosed with PHP1b. Patients with PHP1a had three different mutations in the GNAS gene, and patients with PHPIb had imprinting defect in differentially methylated regions (DMRs) of the GNAS locus. Two novel GNAS variants were identified in patients with PHP1a, including c.313-2A>T and c.1094G>A. All patients with PHP1a displayed AHO features; short stature (80%), brachydactyly (80%), a round face (80%), obesity (40%), heterotopic ossification (60%), and intellectual disability (60%), whereas only one patient (33.3%) with PHP1b showed AHO feature such as a round face. When phenotypic features between PHP1a and PHP1b patients were compared, patients with PHP1b showed a tendency of higher current height standard deviation scores (SDS) compared to patients with PHP1a, (-3.2±2.1 vs.-1.1±0.8; P=0.06) Conclusions: This study summarizes the phenotypic and genetic features of the PHP patients. Although we found considerable clinical overlap between PHP1a and PHP1b, further long-term follow-up is needed to evaluate the growth and development of children with PHP, as well as the effects of end-organ resistances to endocrine hormones.

• Journal of the Daesoon Academy of Sciences
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• v.31
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• pp.237-269
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• 2018

This study aims to look into Daesoon Thought from the perspective of Neo-Confucianism. Numinous emptiness (虛靈), wise-awakening (知覺), and divine beings (神明) in the Scripture of the Black Tortoise (Hyeonmu-gyeong) are often mentioned as characteristics of the mind in Neo-Confucianism. Accordingly, this research take up the 'Che-Yong (substance, 體 and function, 用)' of mind by classifying numinous emptiness as Origin-Substance (本體), wise-awaking as function, and divine beings as subjects. Numinous emptiness enables an individual to have been born with Li (理) of Taegeuk (太極), which is a mandate from Heaven and the nature of humanity; whereas one embodies spirit and brightness mind based on Origin-Substance. This numinous emptiness of mind is precisely the mind-spirit. Wise-awakening is a function of mind, which actually awakens numinous emptiness (理) and objects (氣). The mind which realizes the Li of Taegeuk as numinous emptiness is conscientiousness and can be taken as a Dao-Mind. The mind which desires objects refers to the Human Mind or a selfish motive. Such propensity in terms of wise-awakening determines the state of mind. One should reach the state of a quiet mind by wisely awakening through the scripture. Divine beings correspond to metaphysical Origin-Substance and physical objects respectively. In addition, they comprehend all and preside over wise-awakening as subjects. The subject recognizes wise-awakening and responds to it. Mind is a path traveled upon by divine beings as they enter and exit. In this regard, the human mind refers to the organ used by immanent deities, which accumulates physical senses, innermost mental processes, and awakened activities. Furthermore, Transcendental deities also come in and out through mental correspondence, leading to changes in one's physical constitution or personality. This paper focuses on the mind perceived in Daesoon Thought as follows: first, besides the existing spiritual perspective, the research takes a view on surveying numinous emptiness, wise-awakening, and divine beings in Neo-Confucianism. Secondly, the Che-Yong of mind is closely looked into by means of innate numinous emptiness as Che and wise-awakening as Yong. Lastly, the essence, energy, and divinity as well as spiritual soul and physical soul are mentioned according to the concept of an immanent deity. The paper also clarifies the fact that divine beings preside over the mind as subjects.

• The Journal of Korean Society for Radiation Therapy
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• v.34
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• pp.83-92
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• 2022

Purpose: To evaluate usefulness of Tomotherapy and Halcyon VMAT treatment in radiation therapy for bi-breast cancer Materials and Methods: For 10 patients with bi-breast cancer, volumetric modulated arc therapy(VMAT) treatment plan was established using helical Tomotherapy(Accuray. USA) with field width of 5.0-cm and pitch of 0.287, and Halcyon(Varian Medical System, Palo Alto, CA, Version 3.0 USA) of 6arc and 8arc. Prescribed dose was 42.4 Gy/16, and V _40.3Gy of Planning Target Volume(PTV) was 90%. The quality of plan was evaluated by comparing the dose to tumor and normal organs, and the efficiency was evaluated by comparing total MU and beam on time. Results: About three treatment plans(Tomotherapy, Halcyon 6Arc VMAT, Halcyon 8Arc VMAT) , the mean homogeneity index(H.I) of PTV were 1.07, 1.10, 1.11, and the mean conformity index(C.I) of PTV were 1.21, 1.16, 1.17, respectively. The average value of the dose assessment item for a normal organ is V _5Gy(%) of both lung was 36.3, 31.2, 29.7, and V _15Gy(%) were 18.6, 15.5, 14.6, respectively. The mean heart dose(Gy) were 4.17, 2.69, 2.51. Total MU were (7498.6, 2494.2, 2471.5), and beam on time(sec) were 462.5, 195.4, 198.0. Conclusion: Halcyon VMAT showed similar quality of treatment plan compared to helical Tomotherapy, while also protecting normal organs. In addition, the efficiency of radiotherapy increased due to a decrease in Beam On Time and MU.

• The Journal of Korean Society for Radiation Therapy
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• v.34
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• pp.43-50
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• 2022

Objective: The purpose of this study is to choose a treatment plan and equipment to maximize tangential irradiation to protect the normal brain tissues as much as possible during total scalp irradiation. Subjects and Methods: After zoning the total scalp of a phantom and selecting a target area for treatment, the study made a Helical TomoTherapy(HT) plan, a Helical TomoTherapy with a Complete Block(HTCB) plan, and a Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy(VMAT) plan. All of these plans made sure that the volume of a treatment plan with 95% of a prescription dose(40 Gy) would not exceed 95% of the entire volume and that Dmax would not be more than 110% of the prescription dose. The therapy plans compared doses among organs at risk of damage including the brain. Doses in the brain tissues were assessed based on the volumetric criteria for normal tissues in Emami et al. Results: HT, HTCB, and VMAT had a dose of 21.68 Gy, 13.75 Gy, and 20.89 Gy, respectively, in brain tissues at D_33%, a dose of 7.06 Gy, 3.21 Gy, and 7.84 Gy, respectively, at D_67%, and a dose of 3.14 Gy, 1.75 Gy, and 3.84 Gy, respectively, at D_100%. They recorded a Dmean of 16.64 Gy, 11.78 Gy, and 16.64 Gy, respectively. These results show that the overall dose was low in the HTCB plan. When the volume of a low dose was calculated based on 5 Gy, they recorded 87%, 49%, and 96%, respectively, in V_5Gy. In addition, the maximum dose in the remaining organ(brain stem, hippocampus, and both lenses) except for the optic pathway was the lowest in HTCB Conclusion: The findings demonstrate that TomoTherapy with a complete block minimized a dose in organs at risk of damage including the brain and hippocampus on both sides and accordingly reduced the probability of side effects such as radiation-induced brain injuries and a resulting decrease in neurocognitive functions. In addition to total scalp irradiation, if additional studies on ring targets treated in various areas are conducted to establish the benefits of tangential irradiation, it is believed that TomoTherapy using Complete Block can be used to maximize tangential irradiation in treatment planning.