• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.299-304
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• 2009

Rosiglitazone maleate (RGM) is widely used for improving insulin resistance. RGM is a moderate inhibitor of cytochrome P450 2C8 (CYP2C8) and is also mainly metabolized by CYP2C8. The aim of this study was to determine whether the effect of RGM on CYP2C8 is altered by co-treatment with other drugs, and whether amlodipine camsylate (AC) changes the pharmacokinetics (PK) of RGM. Of the 11 drugs that are likely to be co-administered with RGM in diabetic patients, seven drugs lowered the $IC_{50}$ value of RGM on CYP2C8 by more than 80%. In vitro CYP2C8 inhibitory assays of RGM in combination with drugs of interest showed that the $IC_{50}$ of RGM was decreased by 98.9% by AC. In a pharmacokinetic study, Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were orally administered 1 mg/kg of RGM following by single or 10-consecutive daily administrations of 1.5 mg/kg/day of AC. No significant changes in the pharmacokinetic parameters of RGM were observed after a single administration of AC, but the AUC and $C_{max}$ values of RGM were significantly reduced by 36% and 31%, respectively, by multiple administrations of AC. In conclusion, RGM was found to be affected by AC by in vitro CYP2C8 inhibition testing, and multiple dosing of AC appreciably changed the pharmacokinetics of RGM. These findings suggest that a drug interaction exists between AC and RGM.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.149-155
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• 2015

Objective: The goal of this study was to investigate the relationship between serum progesterone (P4) levels on the day of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) administration and the pregnancy rate among women undergoing controlled ovarian stimulation for in vitro fertilization (IVF) or intracytoplasmic sperm injection-embryo transfer (ICSI-ET) using a flexible antagonist protocol. Methods: This prospective study included 200 IVF and ICSI-ET cycles in which a flexible antagonist protocol was used. The patients were divided into five distinct groups according to their serum P4 levels at the time of hCG administration (0.80, 0.85, 0.90, 0.95, and 1.00 ng/mL). The clinical pregnancy rate (CPR) was calculated for each P4 interval. Statistically significant differences were observed at a serum P4 level of 0.9 ng/mL. These data suggest that a serum P4 concentration of 0.9 ng/mL may represent the optimal threshold level for defining premature luteinization (PL) based on the presence of a significant negative impact on the CPR. Results: The CPR for each round of ET was significantly lower in the PL group defined using this threshold (25.8% vs. 41.8%; p=0.019), and the number of oocytes retrieved was significantly higher than in the non-PL group ($17.3{\pm}7.2$ vs. $11.0{\pm}7.2$; p=0.001). Elevated serum P4 levels on the day of hCG administration were associated with a reduced CPR, despite the retrieval of many oocytes. Conclusion: Measuring serum P4 values at the time of hCG administration is necessary in order to determine the optimal strategy for embryo transfer.

• Journal of Korean Society of Coastal and Ocean Engineers
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.207-216
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• 2014

Total organic carbon (TOC) is an important indicator used as an direct biological index in the research field of the marine carbon cycle. It is possible to produce the sufficient TOC estimation data by using the Chemical Oxygen Demand(COD) data because the available TOC data is relatively poor than the COD data. The outlier detection and treatment (removal) should be carried out reasonably and objectively because the equation for a COD-TOC conversion is directly affected the TOC estimation. In this study, it aims to suggest the optimal regression model using the available salinity, COD, and TOC data observed in the Korean coastal zone. The optimal regression model is selected by the comparison and analysis on the changes of data numbers before and after removal, variation coefficients and root mean square (RMS) error of the diverse detection methods of the outlier and influential observations. According to research result, it is shown that a diagnostic case combining SIQR (Semi - Inter-Quartile Range) boxplot and Cook's distance method is most suitable for the outlier detection. The optimal regression function is estimated as the TOC(mg/L) = $0.44{\cdot}COD(mg/L)+1.53$, then determination coefficient is showed a value of 0.47 and RMS error is 0.85 mg/L. The RMS error and the variation coefficients of the leverage values are greatly reduced to the 31% and 80% of the value before the outlier removal condition. The method suggested in this study can provide more appropriate regression curve because the excessive impacts of the outlier frequently included in the COD and TOC monitoring data is removed.

• Journal of Climate Change Research
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• v.2 no.4
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• pp.283-295
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• 2011

Many actions against climate change have been taken to reduce greenhouse gases (GHGs) emissions at home and abroad. As of 2007, the GHGs emitted from buildings accounted for about 23 % of Korea's total GHGs emission, which is the second largest GHG reduction potential following industry. In this study, we introduced Carbon Zero Building (CZB), which was constructed by the National Institute of Environmental Research to cut down GHGs from buildings in Korea, and evaluated the main applied technologies, the amount of energy load and reduced energy, and economic values for CZB to provide data that could be a basis in the future construction of this kind of carbon-neutral buildings. A total of 66 technologies were applied for this building in order to achieve carbon zero emissions. Applied technologies include 30 energy consumption reduction technologies, 18 energy efficiency technologies, and 5 eco-friendly technologies. Out of total annual energy load ($123.8kWh/m^2$), about 40% of energy load ($49kWh/m^2$) was reduced by using passive technologies such as super insulation and use of high efficiency equipments and the other 60% ($74.8kWh/m^2$) was reduced by using active technologies such as solar voltaic, solar thermal, and geothermal energy. The construction cost of CZB was 1.4 times higher than ordinary buildings. However, if active technologies are excluded, the construction cost is similar to that of ordinary buildings. It was estimated that we could save annually about 102 million won directly from energy saving and about 2.2 million won indirectly from additional saving by the reduction in GHGs and atmospheric pollutants. In terms of carbon, we could reduce 100 ton of $CO_2$ emissions per year. In our Life Cycle Cost (LCC) analysis, the Break Even Point (BEP) for the additional construction cost was estimated to be around 20.6 years.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.757-761
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• 2010

This study was conducted to assess the effects of organic and inorganic copper on performance in growing pigs. A total of 100 pigs, average age 63 d and initial body weight 21.46${\pm}$1.13 kg, were assigned to five treatment groups. Dietary treatments included i) CON (basal diet, 0 ppm Cu), ii) T1 (basal diet with 67 ppm Cu as cupric sulfate, $CuSO_4$), iii) T2 (basal diet with 134 ppm Cu as $CuSO_4$), iv) T3 (basal diet with 67 ppm Cu as cupric methionate, CuMet) and v) T4 (basal diet with 134 ppm Cu as CuMet). Throughout the entire experimental period, ADG (average daily gain), ADFI (average daily feed intake) and G/F (gain: feed) ratios showed no significant differences. The dry matter digestibility was improved in the T1, T2, T3, and T4 treatments (p<0.05), as compared with CON. Nitrogen digestibility was improved in the T3 treatment group as compared with CON (p<0.05). As compared with the T1 treatment group, fecal pH values were improved in the CON, T3, and T4 treatment groups (p<0.05). Fecal Cu concentrations were significantly lower in the CON, T3, and T4 treatment groups than in T1 and T2 (p<0.05). The incidence of diarrhea was reduced when the pigs were fed on the T2, T3, and T4 diets as compared with CON. In conclusion, diets supplemented with 67 or 134 ppm Cu as CuMet may prove effective in improving nutrient digestibility and fecal pH value in growing pigs, and fecal Cu concentrations may be reduced by CuMet supplementation.

• Macromolecular Research
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.78-84
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• 2004

Advanced epoxy molding compounds (EMCs) should be considered to alleviate the thermal stress problems caused by low thermal conductivity and high elastic modulus of an EMC and by the mismatch of the coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) between an EMC and the Si-wafer. Though A1N has some advantages, such as high thermal conductivity and mechanical strength, an A1N-filled EMC could not be applied to commercial products because of its low fluidity and high modules. To solve this problem, we used 2-$\mu\textrm{m}$ fused silica, which has low porosity and spherical shape, as a small size filler in the binary mixture of fillers. When the composition of the silica in the binary filler system reached 0.3, the fluidity of EMC was improved more than twofold and the mechanical strength was improved 1.5 times, relative to the 23-$\mu\textrm{m}$ A1N-filled EMC. In addition, the values of the elastic modules and the dielectric constant were reduced to 90％, although the thermal conductivity of EMC was reduced from 4.3 to 2.5 W/m-K, when compared with the 23-$\mu\textrm{m}$ A1N-filled EMC. Thus, the A1N/silica (7/3)-filled EMC effectively meets the requirements of an advanced electronic packaging material for commercial products, such as high thermal conductivity (more than 2 W/m-K), high fluidity, low elastic modules, low dielectric constant, and low CTE.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.213-220
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• 2010

To examine the potential of Terminalia chebula as a whitening agent, we measured antioxidant activity using DPPH$\cdot$, ABTS${\cdot}^+$ assays and ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assays, and depigmenting activity using B16F10 melanoma cells. The intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) level was monitored by $H_2DCFDA$ fluorescence labeling, and melanin contents in B16F10 melanoma cells by 960 $J/m^2$ dose of UVA-induced oxidative stress. The radical-scavenging activities of T. chebula extract (TCE) were measured in terms of $EC_{50}$ values using DPPH$\cdot$, ABTS${\cdot}^+$ assays and FRAP value were 280.0 ${\mu}g/mL$, 42.2 ${\mu}g/mL$ and 113.1 ${\mu}mol$ $FeSO_4{\cdot}7H_2O/g$, respectively. We found that ROS and melanin concentrations were reduced by TCE treatments of 25 ${\mu}g/mL$ under UVA-induced oxidative stress. Tyrosinase activity and melanin contents in $\alpha$-melanocyte stimulating hormone (MSH)-induced melanoma cells both decreased dose-dependently in the treatment groups. TCE similarly reduced melanogenesis in B16F10 melanoma cells stimulated by $\alpha$-MSH as compared to arbutin as a positive control. T. chebula may prove to be a useful therapeutic agent for hyperpigmentation and an effective component in skin whitening and.or lightening cosmetics.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.251-263
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• 2013

The surface ozone concentrations changes were investigated in response to climate change over the Korean peninsula for summertime using the global-regional one way coupled Integrated Climate and Air quality Modeling System (ICAMS). The future simulations were conducted under the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Special Report on Emissions Scenarios (SRES) A2 and B1 scenarios. The modeling system was applied for four 10-year simulations: 1996~2005 as a present-day case, 2016~2025, 2046~2055, and 2091~2100 as future cases. The results in this study showed that the mean surface ozone concentrations increased up to 0.5~3.3 ppb under the A2, but decreased by 0.1~10.9 ppb under the B1 for the future, respectively. However, its increases were lower than an increase of the average daily maximum 8-hour (DM8H) surface ozone concentrations which was projected to increase by 2.8~6.5 ppb under the A2. The DM8H surface ozone concentrations seem to be therefore far more affected by the climate and emissions changes than mean values. The probability of exceeding 60 ppb was projected to increase by 6~19% under the A2. In the case of B1, its changes were presented with an increase of 2.9% in the 2020s but no occurrence in the 2100s due to the effect of the reduced emissions. Future projection on surface ozone concentrations was generally shown to have almost the similar trend as the emissions of $NO_x$ and NMVOC.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.67-77
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• 2002

This study aims at investigating the realities of tractor rotary tilling and paving operations performed by farm families in the central part of the country, measuring the power requirement so as to find the energy-saving factors for tractor rotary tilling, and designing a device to prevent soil adherence to the inside of the rotary cover-this part is the most subject to soil adherence and affects the power requirement. As a result of rotary tilling tests using rotaries equipped with a soil adherence preventer, the power requirement values were measured to be 52.18, 52.44, 49.01 and 46.34 PS for general, stainless steel, rubber and PE rotaries, and as a results of measurement of the quantities of the soil adhered to rotaries after their tilling tests, on the average, the quantities were measured to be 5.6, 5.7, 3.1 and 2.7kg for general, stainless steel, rubber and PE rotaries, respectively. The PE rotary cover reduced the power requirement and soil adherence by 11 and 52%, respectively.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Marine Environment & Safety
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 2010

Numerical study on coastal water quality management was conducted to examine the response of summer water quality to the flow into the sea of land based pollution load in Ulsan Bay, Korea The abatement of pollution load. from point sources of land was estimated on the basis of Korean coastal water quality standard using an ecosystem model. The results of the ecological model simulation showed that COD values in the inner part of the bay were greater than 280mg/L, and exceeded the grade III limit of Korean coastal water quality standard 30% of all land based pollution loads or organic and inorganic material loads from point sources should be cut down to keep the COD levels below 2mg/L. As environmental carrying capacity was estimated to be 7,193kgCOD/day to keep the COD levels below 2mg/L in Ulsan Bay, 3,083kgCOD/day of land based organic loads should be reduced. The phytoplankton blooms have occurred in the Teahwa river mouth or estuary repetitively, so it is important to control land based nutrients loads for removal of autochthonous organic loads around Ulsan Bay.