• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.59 no.5
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• pp.507-512
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• 2021

Since 1993, vivax malaria has been recognized as a public health burden in Korea. Despite of pan-governmental malaria-control efforts and the dramatic reduction in the burden of this disease over the last 10 years, vivax malaria has not been well controlled and has remained continuously endemic. We focused interviewed and examined the charts of 28 confirmed vivax malaria patients given malarial therapy for whom daily records were kept from Gimpo-si, Gyeonggi-do of Korea. Various epidemiological characteristics of vivax malaria, including the incubation period, medication used, and recurrence, and an evaluation of the parasitic characteristics from the focused interviews of patients from this region are described here. Most of the participants indicated the 3 most common symptoms of malaria (headache, chills and fever). Of the 28 cases, 2 experienced a second attack and there were 17 and 11 cases with short- and long-term incubation periods, respectively, yielding a short-term to long-term ratio of 1.5. Based on the parasitemia stages, most of the participants were tested at 5 to 7 days (11 cases) and 7 to 15 days (11 cases) after initial wave of asexual parasites. In conclusion, public health authorities should consider developing management measures to decrease the time lag for diagnosis and drafting unified and robust guidelines for drug use for malaria and drawing up unified and robust guidelines on the use of medication for malaria. It also suggests that routine monitoring, surveillance, and precise medical surveys in high-risk vivax malaria endemic areas are pivotal to controlling this persistent public disease and finally eliminating it from Korea.

• Clean Technology
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.255-260
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• 2021

A drawback in the CO₂ capture process using an aqueous amine solution is the high energy requirement for the regeneration process. In order to overcome this disadvantage, this study investigated CO₂ capture characteristics using a biphasic absorbent in which isopropanol (IPA) was introduced into an aqueous solution of diethylenetriamine (DETA). When the IPA composition exceeded 20 wt% in 20 wt% DETA aqueous solution, the absorbent phase was liquid-liquid separated into a CO₂-rich phase and a CO₂-lean phase because of the low solubility of the salt formed by the reaction of CO₂ with DETA in isopropanol. When the isopropanol composition in the DETA aqueous solution increased, the phase volume ratio of the CO₂-rich phase to the volume of the CO₂-lean phase increased; and, accordingly, the CO₂ in the CO₂-rich phase was more concentrated. The results of absorbing CO₂ in a packed tower using 20 wt% DETA + IPA + water absorbent confirmed that both the CO₂ absorption capacity and the absorption rate were higher than that of the 20 wt% DETA aqueous solution. When a biphasic absorbent composed of DETA + IPA + water is applied to CO₂ capture, it can be expected to concentrate CO₂ because of phase separation and thereby reduce regeneration energy owing to volume reduction of the CO₂-rich phase.

• Laboraroty Animal Research
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.302-310
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• 2018

CD47 (integrin-associated protein), a multi-spanning transmembrane protein expressed in all cells including red blood cells (RBCs) and leukocytes, interacts with signal regulatory protein ${\alpha}$ ($SIRP{\alpha}$) on macrophages and thereby inhibits phagocytosis of RBCs. Recently, we generated a novel C57BL/6J CD47 knockout ($CD47^{-/-}$ hereafter) mouse line by employing a CRISPR/Cas9 system at Center for Mouse Models of Human Disease, and here report their hematological phenotypes. On monitoring their birth and development, $CD47^{-/-}$ mice were born viable with a natural male-to-female sex ratio and normally developed from birth through puberty to adulthood without noticeable changes in growth, food/water intake compared to their age and sex-matched wild-type littermates up to 26 weeks. Hematological analysis revealed a mild but significant reduction of RBC counts and hemoglobin in 16 week-old male $CD47^{-/-}$ mice which were aggravated at the age of 26 weeks with increased reticulocyte counts and mean corpuscular volume (MCV), suggesting hemolytic anemia. Interestingly, anemia in female $CD47^{-/-}$ mice became evident at 26 weeks, but splenomegaly was identified in both genders of $CD47^{-/-}$ mice from the age of 16 weeks, consistent with development of hemolytic anemia. Additionally, helper and cytotoxic T cell populations were considerably reduced in the spleen, but not in thymus, of $CD47^{-/-}$ mice, suggesting a crucial role of CD47 in proliferation of T cells. Collectively, these findings indicate that our $CD47^{-/-}$ mice have progressive hemolytic anemia and splenic depletion of mature T cell populations and therefore may be useful as an in vivo model to study the function of CD47.

• Archives of Hand and Microsurgery
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.223-229
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• 2018

Purpose: A number of procedures were introduced to stabilize the 1st metacarpal bone after resection of the trapezium in the thumb carpometacarpal joint (CMCJ) arthroplasty. However, some surgical procedures may inevitably damage normal structures, such as harvesting tendons or drilling of a bone for tendon passage. Suture suspension arthroplasty is relatively less invasive and easier to perform than the previously described surgical methods. The purpose of this study was to report the therapeutic efficiency of the suture suspension arthroplasty. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 12 patients who underwent suture suspension arthroplasty for the treatment of thumb CMCJ arthritis. Pain visual analogue scale (VAS), satisfaction about surgical outcomes, and the disabilities of the arm, shoulder and hand (DASH) scores were measured to evaluate the functional outcomes and the Trapezial Space Ratios were measured. Satisfaction was measured in the range of "very dissatisfied" (0) to "very satisfied" (10). Results: The mean follow-up period was 23 months. Pain VAS score improved significantly from 7.0 to 2.9 (p<0.05). And mean satisfaction scale was 6.9. However, there was no significant difference in DASH scores between before and after surgery (p=0.06). The mean trapezial space ratio was calculated to be 0.45 before surgery, 0.33 immediately after surgery, 0.23 at the last follow-up. Conclusion: Suture suspension arthroplasty is a satisfactory surgical procedure. And compared with other procedures, there is no significant difference in the reduction of the trapezial space. It may be useful in advanced thumb CMCJ arthritis.

• Korean Journal of Breeding Science
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.407-412
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• 2010

Recently, peoples are greatly concerned with global temperature change because global warming can be a potential serious effect on agriculture production such as yield reduction and poor grain quality. On the other hand, it can bring some beneficial effects through twice cultivation of rice in temperate region. In order to overcome this situation, we developed extremely early-maturing rice 'Milyang255' which heading date was similar with 'Jinbuolbyeo'. Based on agronomic characteristics of 'Milyang255', it has very short stature as 65 cm of culm length and slightly lower spikelets number per panicle compared with that of 'Jinbuolbyeo'. However, the grain appearance, palatability and other items were better than those of 'Jinbuolbyeo' in panel test of cooked rice. The milled rice yield of 'Milyang255' is 3.94 MT/ha at the early transplanting. Especially, its grain filling rate was higher and faster than Jinbuolbyeo and the head rice ratio in milled rice was also higher. Thus, 'Milyang255' can efficiently reduce the growth duration of rice cultivation and also be useful material for research on twice cultivation of rice in Korea.

• Resources Recycling
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.46-53
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• 2019

In this study, the extraction and reduction behavior of platinum group metals in a non-aqueous solvent based on ionic liquids was investigated in order to confirm a new extraction technology of platinum group metals. Platinum was selectively extracted using an ionic liquid $[C_4mim]PF_6$ from a mixed solution of $PdCl_2$, $PtCl_4$ and $RhCl_3$ dissolved with concentration ratio of 10:1:0.5 M. After stripping of the metals by 1 M $HNO_3$ solution, the platinum was preferentially reduced by aqueous electrolysis on gold electrode at -0.8 V (vs. Pt-QRE). The residual palladium and rhodium were transferred to ionic liquid of $[C_4mim]Cl$. The metallic palladium and rhodium could be sequentially reduced on gold and STS304 as working electrodes by non-aqueous electrolysis, respectively.

• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.1147-1159
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• 2018

This study focuses on the verification of a rapid protection automation system using an inflatable structure. The inflatable structure is an automatic rapid protection system against human and material damage when the subsea tunnel is flooded. Especially, it is essential for construction and operation of subsea tunnels. In this study, we have experimentally verified the rapid protection automation system using the inflatable structure designed for this problem. In order to verify this, a model tunnel with a 40: 1 reduction ratio was constructed, and air pressure of 0.1 bar and 0.15 bar was injected to divide the tunnel according to the expansion rate at 10 sec and 20 sec. According to the results of the study, the protection efficiency was better at 0.15 bar than 0.1 bar when the expansion structure was expanded, and the protection efficiency and influent control efficiency were different according to the pneumatic injection time of the inflating structure. As a result of this study, it was found that the higher the internal air pressure of the inflated structure and the faster the inflation of rate, the more effectively the inflated structure was inflated. As a result of this study, it is necessary to further study the wedge type structure which is useful for the storage method of expansion structure, shape and expansion derivative, inhibition of expansion structure during protection and control of inflow water.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.690-695
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• 2018

Advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) composed of O3 and UV were applied to degrade penicillin (PEN). The degradation efficiency was evaluated in terms of changes in the absorbance (ABS) and total organic carbon (TOC). The combination of $O_3/H_2O_2/UV$ and $O_3/UV$ showed the best performance for the reduction of ABS (100% for 9 min) and TOC (70% for 60 min) values, although the mineralization was uncompleted under the experimental condition in this study. The change in biotoxicy was monitored with Escherichia coli susceptibility and Vibrio fischeri biofluorescence. The E. coli susceptibility was eliminated completely for 9 min by $O_3/UV$, and the toxicity to V. fischeri biofluorescence was 57% reduced by $O_3/H_2O_2/UV$. For the ultimate treatment of PEN, it is suggested that an AOP using $O_3/UV$ is followed by biological treatment, utilizing the enhanced biodegradability by the AOP. During 30 min of $O_3/UV$ treatment, the $BOD_5/COD$ ratio as an indication of biodegradability showed about 4-fold increment, compared to that of using a non-treated sample. TOC removal rate for AOP-pretreated PEN wastewater increased 55% compared to that of using the non-pretreated one through an aerobic biological treatment by Pseudomonas putida for artificial wastewater containing 20 mg/L of PEN. In conclusion, $O_3/UV$ process is recommended as a pretreatment step prior to an aerobic biological process to improve the ultimate degradation of penicillin.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.199-211
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• 2019

Objectives : Present study investigated the hepatoprotective effects of various combinations of lemon balm and dandelion (LD) leaf extract on carbon tetrachloride ($CCl_4$)-induced acute liver injury. Methods : Mice were orally treated with 200 mg/kg of LD extracts [1:1, 1:2, 1:4, 1:6, 1:8, 2:1, 4:1, 6:1, or 8:1 (weight : weight)] for 7 days, and then intraperitoneally injected with $CCl_4$ (0.5 mL/kg). Silymarin (100 mg/kg) was used as reference drug. Body weight gain, relative liver weight, serum biochemistry, histopathologic analyses, and hepatic antioxidant system were examined to elucidate the fittest combination ratio of LD extract. Results : All varying combinations of LD extract significantly increased body weight gain and decreased relative liver weight by $CCl_4$. In addition, LD extract reduced serum aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase. Histopathological analyses indicated that LD extract significantly decreased histological activity index score, degenerated hepatocytes, and infiltrated inflammatory cells induced by $CCl_4$. Moreover, LD extract reduced lipid peroxidation, and attenuated the reduction of hepatic glutathione, superoxide dismutase, and catalase by $CCl_4$. Although there were no statistical differences in body weight gain between silymarin- and LD extract-treated groups, administration of 1:1, 2:1, and 4:1 combination of LD extract exhibited more favorable hepatoprotective effects than silymarin. Especially, 2:1 combination of LD extract showed the most potent hepatoprotective effects. Conclusion : Of various combinations of LD extract tested, present results suggest that 2:1 combination of LD extract would be a promising herbal formulation to protect liver from oxidative stress.

• Journal of Broadcast Engineering
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.670-675
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• 2019

AM radio broadcasting has the advantage that the sound quality is lower than that of FM radio but the service area is wide and at night it can be transmitted even to overseas due to ionospheric reflection. AM radio broadcasts usually transmit large amounts of several tens to several hundreds of kilowatts (KW), requiring a lot of power, which is a financial burden on broadcasters. Recently, it is required to introduce a way to reduce the power of AM radio broadcasting in Korea. Therefore, it is possible to save a certain amount of power compared to the conventional AM radio broadcasting, and it is possible to maintain the existing license service area and sound quality, and what policies are needed to introduce the technology. In this paper, we predict the reduction of transmission power when a high efficiency transmission system is applied to existing AM radio broadcasting transmission system. As a result of the research, AMC adopting the high efficiency transmission method instead of the conventional AM radio transmission method, and when the modulation ratio of AM radio is 70%, if -3 dB companding is applied, the annual transmission power charge is decreased from 5,185,838,160Won to 3,528,900,086Won with saving of 32.0%, When -6 dB companding is applied, it is expected to be reduced to 2,608,378,934Won, which is 49.7% savings.