• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
• /
• v.18 no.2
• /
• pp.17-21
• /
• 2014

Purpose With the recent rise of social issue regarding radiation exposure, attention to medical radiation use has been placed under a great spotlight. During PET-CT examination, generally about 40% more of $^{18}F$-FDG is used than EANM recommendation. While maintaining the diagnostic test result, we hope to find optimal injection dose to minimize the $^{18}F$-FDG in patients by utilizing the latest PET-CT scanner which is equiped with the newest technology. Materials and Methods During this experiment, the Biograph Truepoint 40 (siemens, USA) installed in 2007 and mCT 64 (siemens, USA) installed in 2011 were used and evaluated NECR (noise-equivalent counting rate) by using a scatter phantom. For the image quality evaluation of each scanner, we injected 3.7, 4.44 and 5.18 MBq/kg of $^{18}F$-FDG in NEMA IEC Body Phantom and also evaluated SNR between two scanners by using the data acquired at 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 110 and 120 sec per bed. For the clinical evaluation, actual data of patients who were injected $^{18}F$-FDG 3.7, 4.44, 5.18 MBq/kg were used to compare SNR and draw a final result. Results As a result, mCT 64 peak NECR value was 1.65e+005, which is 10% higher than Turepoint 40. SNR values using the IEC body phantom was 17.9%, 17.4% and 17.1% higher in $^{18}F$-FDG 3.7 MBq/kg, 4.44 MBq/kg and 5.18 MBq/kg. In clinical patients, SNR values of the image mCT 64 was 16.5, which is 25% higher than Turepoint 40 scanner. Conclusion To draw a conclusion from the test result of this experiment, the same quality of SNR could be attained even with 10% reduced injection dose, if when the duration is extended by 10 sec/bed. This optimal result was possible due to enhanced equipment. The NECR (one of the equipment's performance assessment criteria for the scanner) increased by 10% and the SNR (one of the image quality assessment criteria) also increased by 17.5%. Therefore, we can expect to reduce the injection dose without deterioration of image quality. In consequence, it will also help to decrease the patient's anxiety of the radiation exposure.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
• /
• v.41 no.6
• /
• pp.399-407
• /
• 2008

Importance of climate change and its impact on agriculture and environment has increased with a rise of greenhouse gases (GHGs) concentration in Earth's atmosphere, which had caused an increase of temperature in Earth. Greenhouse gas emissions such as methane($CH_4$) and nitrous oxide($N_2O$) in the field need to be assessed. GHGs fluxes using chamber systems in the fields(2004~2005) with pepper cultivation were monitored at the experimental plots of National Academy of Agricultural Science(NAAS), Rural Development Administration(RDA) located in Suwon city. $N_2O$ emission during pepper growing period was reduced to 74.0~82.1% in sandy loam soil compared with those in clay loam soil. Evaluating $N_2O$ emission at different levels of soil water conditions, $N_2O$ emission at -50 kPa were lowered to 13.2% in clay loam soil and 40.2% in sandy loam soil compared with those at -30 kPa. $CH_4$ emission was reduced to 45.7~61.6% in sandy loam soil compared with those in clay loam soil. Evaluating $CH_4$ at different levels of soil water conditions, $CH_4$ emission at -50 kPa was lowered to 69.6% in clay loam soil and 55.8% in sandy loam soil compared with those at -30 kPa. It implied that -50 kPa of soil water potential was effective for saving water and reducing GHG emissions. From the path analysis as to contribution factors for $N_2O$ emission, it appeared that contribution rate was in the order of mineral N(51.2%), soil temperature (25.8%), and soil moisture content(23.0%) in clay loam soil and soil moisture content(39.3%), soil temperature (36.4%), and mineral N(24.3%) in sandy loam soil.

• The Korean Journal of Medicine
• /
• v.99 no.3
• /
• pp.149-157
• /
• 2024

Background/Aims: Carbapenems are recommended for treating bacteremia caused by extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) producing Enterobacteriaceae (ESBL-E). However, this has resulted in a significant rise in the utilization of carbapenems in cases of ESBL-E infection. We evaluated the clinical outcomes of patients with ESBL-E bacteremia treated with non-carbapenem antimicrobials. Methods: We conducted a retrospective case-control study of a cohort of patients with documented ESBL-E bacteremia from January 2021 to December 2021. The patients were divided into two groups according to whether they received non-carbapenem or carbapenem therapy. The rates of treatment failure, 30-day mortality and microbiologic failure, and the durations of hospitalization and of antimicrobial therapy were compared between the two groups. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing and phenotypic identification of ESBL-E were performed using the Vitek 2 system. Results: Of 118 patients with ESBL-E bacteremia, 54 received non-carbapenem drugs (non-carbapenem group [NCG]) and 64 received carbapenems (carbapenem group [CG]). Treatment failure at 30 days occurred in 16.7% of the patients in the NCG and in 18.8% in the CG (p = 0.65). The 30-day mortality rate was 14.8% in the NCG and 17.2% in the CG (p = 0.63). Extra-urinary tract infection and prior antimicrobial therapy within 30 days were risk factors for treatment failure in patients with ESBL-E bacteremia. The clinical outcomes did not differ significantly between the two groups, challenging the prevailing preference for carbapenems in the treatment of ESBL-E bacteremia. Conclusions: Non-carbapenem antimicrobials such as piperacillin/tazobactam are recommended for patients with mild ESBL-E bacteremia in South Korea.

• Horticultural Science & Technology
• /
• v.29 no.4
• /
• pp.317-325
• /
• 2011

This study was conducted to examine the effect of supplemental lighting on the growth and yield of hydroponically grown sweet pepper (Capsicum annuum L. cv. sprit) under low levels of natural light in winter. The plants were treated with natural light only (control), 3-hour supplemental lighting before sunrise, after sunrise and after sunset with high pressure sodium (HPS, 400W). As the result of these three treatments, the supplemental lighting promoted photosynthesis in the low light intensity condition and particularly photosynthesis was more active right after sun rise in the morning, 1.5-$3.0{\mu}molCO_2{\cdot}m^{-2}{\cdot}s^{-1}$ comparing to those of supplemental lighting after sunset, 0.5-$1.5{\mu}molCO_2{\cdot}m^{-2}{\cdot}s^{-1}$. Transpiration rate and stomatal conductance sharply increased with supplemental lighting after sunrise then they decreased again after turning the lights off. Stomatal size was observed $32.2{\mu}m^2$ after supplemental lighting, whereas the size of the natural light was almost closed at $7.7{\mu}m^2$. The average plant height of sweet papper cv. spirit was 185 cm before sunrise, 188 cm after sunrise and 208 cm after sunset with supplemental lighting for 3hours while the control was 171 cm. With supplemental lighting a better number of fruit set per plant was measured 4.3 before and after sunrise, 3.7 after sunset but 2.6 in the control. Interestingly, there were no significant differences in the sugar content ($^{\circ}Brix$) degree between treatment of supplemental lighting, whereas slight differences between seasons were seen. The marketable fruit yield of sweet pepper (cv. spirit) was $116.0kg{\cdot}ha$ with supplemental lighting, whereas the control (natural light only) was $75.8kg{\cdot}ha$. Despite of spending electricity and depreciation cost, the economic analysis showed net income with supplemental lighting after sunrise was 51% higher than control treatment in cv. spirit.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
• /
• v.17 no.2
• /
• pp.90-95
• /
• 2008

It has become a big matter of concerns that the skill and measures against reduction of energy and cost for heating a protected horticultural greenhouse were prepared. But in these days necessity of cooling a protected horticultural greenhouse is on the rise from partial high value added farm products. In this study, therefore, a horizontal type geothermal heat pump system with 10 RT scale to heat and cool a protected horticultural greenhouse and be considered to be cheaper than a vertical type geothermal heat pump system was installed in greenhouse with area of $240\;m^2$. And cooling performances of this system were analysed. As condenser outlet temperature of heat transfer medium fluid rose from $40^{\circ}C$ to $58^{\circ}C$, power consumption of the heat pump was an upturn from 11.5 kW to 15 kW and high pressure rose from 1,617 kPa to 2,450 kPa. Cooling COP had the trend that the higher the ground temperature at 1.75 m went, the lower the COP went. The COP was 2.7 at ground temperature at 1.75 m depth of $25.5^{\circ}C$ and 2.0 at the temperature of $33.5^{\circ}C$ and the heat extraction rate from the greenhouse were 28.8 kW, 26.5 kW respectively at the same ground temperature range. 8 hours after the heat pump was operated, the temperature of ground at 60 cm and 150 cm depth buried a geothermal heat exchanger rose $14.3^{\circ}C$, $15.3^{\circ}C$ respectively, but the temperature of ground at the same depth not buried rose $2.4^{\circ}C$, $4.3^{\circ}C$ respectively. The temperature of heat transfer medium fluid fell $7.5^{\circ}C$ after the fluid passed through geothermal heat exchanger and the fluid rejected average 46 kW to the 1.5 m depth ground. It analyzed the geothermal heat exchanger rejected average 36.8 W/m of the geothermal heat exchanger. Fan coil units in the greenhouse extracted average 28.2 kW from the greenhouse air and the temperature of heat transfer medium fluid rose $4.2^{\circ}C$after the fluid passing through fan coil units. It was analyzed the accumulation energy of thermal storage thank was 321 MJ in 3 hours and the rejection energy of the tank was 313 MJ in 4 hours.

• Journal of fish pathology
• /
• v.22 no.3
• /
• pp.293-303
• /
• 2009

Effects of stress on the low salinity stress were examined in the pacific abalone Haliotis discus discus. Changes in survival rate, hemolymph count, antioxidant enzyme activities (catalase: CAT and superoxide dismutase: SOD), respiratory burst activity, phenoloxidase activity, lysozyme activity and expression of heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) mRNA were measured 0, 3, 6, 12, 24 or 48hours after low salinity treatment with 25, 30, 33 and 35 psu. Survival rates of pacific abalone were 100% at 33 and 35 psu, but 93 and 97% at 25 and 30 psu for 48 hours, respectively. Hemolymph counts decreased in the time elapsed-dependent way at all of the experimental groups. At low salinity, 25 and 30 psu, SOD and CAT activity increased compared to the experimental group of 33 psu. Moreover, respiratory burst activities of the pacific abalone seemed to have no effect on low salinity stress at any experimental group. However, phenoloxidase activity is an important component of the defence against pathogen that was decreased in a reduction of salinity dependent way. Lysozyme activity also immediately reduced at 25 psu experimental group for 48 h. The HSP70 mRNA was weakly expressed at 33 psu, but strongly detectable at 25 psu experimental group. The HSP 70 mRNA expression in gill increased in the time elapsed-dependent way at 25 psu experimental group and then recovered at 48 h. These results suggest that low salinity stress give rise to inhibitory action of immune system as a result of the decrease of phenoloxidase and lysozyme activity in the pacific abalone, especially.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.24 no.10
• /
• pp.1046-1054
• /
• 2014

Beta-1,3-glucanase is widely used in various biotechnological and industrial processes, with over-production required to enable versatile utilization. We examined the overexpression of ${\beta}$-1,3-glucanase (EXGA) from Aspergillus oryzae using ${\delta}$-sequence-mediated integration. We constructed $pRS{\delta}$-exgA and $pRS{\delta}K$-exgA plasmids for integration of the EXGA gene into various chromosomes of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. These plasmids contain the ADH1 promoter for constitutive expression, a signal sequence (exoinulinase signal sequence [INU1 s.s]) for secretory production, and a ${\delta}$-sequence for integration of ${\beta}$-1,3-glucanase. The $pRS{\delta}$-exgA plasmid was transformed into the S. cerevisiae $BY4742{\Delta}exg1$ strain, and ${\beta}$-1.3-glucanase was stably overexpressed and secreted. Another plasmid, $pRS{\delta}K$-exgA, was introduced into the S. cerevisiae $BY4742{\Delta}exg1$ (YKY082) strain, and overexpression of ${\beta}$-1,3-glucanase was examined by inducible integration under geneticin selection. The activity of ${\beta}$-1,3-glucanase increased in accordance with a rise in the geneticin concentration, with 0.8 mg/ml of geneticin suitable for overexpression of ${\beta}$-1,3-glucanase. Subsequently, $pRS{\delta}K$-exgA was repeatedly transformed for sequential ${\delta}$-integration. The activity of ${\beta}$-1,3-glucanase reached about 0.063 unit/ml/$OD_{600}$, 0.095 unit/ml/$OD_{600}$, 0.131 unit/ml/$OD_{600}$ and 0.165 unit/ml/$OD_{600}$ by the first, second, third, and fourth round of integration, respectively. According to the increase in the activity of ${\beta}$-1,3-glucanase by sequential ${\delta}$-integration, the copy number (integration rate) of the EXGA gene also increased in various chromosomes. These results suggest that recombinant ${\beta}$-1,3-glucanase activity can be sequentially increased by repeated ${\delta}$-sequence integration.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
• /
• v.23 no.4
• /
• pp.349-355
• /
• 2014

This study was performed to evaluate influences of tunnel covering materials and seeding dates on the growth and productivity of water spinach (Ipomoea aquatic F.) cultured early in unheated greenhouse. During tunnel installation period, from March 5 to April 30 and from October 11 to November 10, air and soil temperature in tunnel covered with polyethylene film (PEF) had risen $2.0-2.4^{\circ}C$ and $0.9-1.0^{\circ}C$, respectively, compared to those in non-tunnel (NT). Air and soil temperature in tunnel with illite non-fabric (INF) also had risen $1.6-1.8^{\circ}C$ and $0.6-0.8^{\circ}C$, respectively. Especially, it showed greater effects of the rise at low temperature time zones of the day. In plots of seeding on March 15 in tunnel covered with PEF or INF, temperature during emergence period, emergence days and rate were similar to plot seeding on April 5 in NT. There were two more harvesting in plots of seeding on March 5 or March 15 in tunnel, and increasing of total yield by 22.5-25.7% compared to plot of seeding on April 5 in NT. But there was observed no significant differences between PEF and INF. Whereas PEF was necessary to be removed at midday sometimes because it had risk of high temperature injury, INF was not necessary. All above suggest that it was suitable to sow seed on the middle of March in tunnel covered with INF, for early culture of water spinach in unheated greenhouse.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Gas
• /
• v.27 no.3
• /
• pp.19-26
• /
• 2023

Hydrogen, a clean energy source free of COx emissions, is poised to replace fossil fuels, with its usage on the rise. Despite its high energy content per unit mass, hydrogen faces limitations in storage and transportation due to its low storage density and challenges in long-term storage. In contrast, ammonia offers a high storage capacity per unit volume and is relatively easy to liquefy, making it an attractive option for storing and transporting large volumes of hydrogen. While NH₃ decomposition is an endothermic reaction, achieving excellent low-temperature catalytic activity is essential for process efficiency and cost-effectiveness. The study examined the effects of different zeolite types (5A, NaY, ZSM5) on NH₃ decomposition activity, considering differences in pore structure, cations, and Si/Al-ratio. Notably, the 5A zeolite facilitated the high dispersion of Ni across the surface, inside pores, and within the structure. Its low Si/Al ratio contributed to abundant acidity, enhancing ammonia adsorption. Additionally, the presence of Na and Ca cations in the support created medium basic sites that improved N₂ desorption rates. As a result, among the prepared catalysts, the 15 wt%Ni/5A catalyst exhibited the highest NH₃ conversion and a high H₂ formation rate of 23.5 mmol/g_cat·min (30,000 mL/g_cat·h, 600 ℃). This performance was attributed to the strong metal-support interaction and the enhancement of N₂ desorption rates through the presence of medium basic sites.

• Journal of dental hygiene science
• /
• v.11 no.3
• /
• pp.229-234
• /
• 2011

This study obtained DMFT index(9271 people) in population with more than 6 years old based on data of 2009 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, and calculated SiC index(2,517 people) by classifying group with high risk, which is 1/3 in high rank out of it. The aim was to confirm existence of the group with high risk of dental caries, and was to emphasize necessity of preventive strategy for the group with high risk. Statistical analysis was carried out t-test by using STATA 11.0 program. 1. DMFT index accounted for 45.0%(4,174 people) for men and 55.0%(5,097 people) for women. SiC index stood at 2,517 people. Men accounted for 36.3%(914 people). Thus, women were larger with 64.7%(1,603 people). 2. Seeing the mean in DMFT index and SiC index, the more rise in age led to the bigger difference in the mean between two groups. Especially, the difference was shown more than 4 points on the average for 13 and 14 years old and more than double on the average from over 15 years. 3. As a result of comparing gender, DMFT index was higher in women than men from over 14 years old. SiC index wasn't significant. However, women were indicated to be 1 piece more than men at the age of 9 and 14. 4. As a result of comparing by region, both DMFT index and SiC index were indicated to be higher in the rural area for their over 60s. Seeing the above results, the group with high risk is showing the higher rate of experiencing dental caries than DMFT-index in the whole. Thus, the comprehensively & intensively preventive management seems to be likely needed on group with high risk.