• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.439-445
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• 2017

Objective: Production of alpha-1,3-galactosyltransferase (${\alpha}GT$)-deficient pigs is essential to overcome xenograft rejection in pig-to-human xenotransplantation. However, the production of such pigs requires a great deal of cost, time, and labor. Heterozygous ${\alpha}GT$ knockout pigs should be bred at least for two generations to ultimately obtain homozygote progenies. The present study was conducted to produce ${\alpha}GT$-deficient miniature pigs in much reduced time using mitotic recombination in neonatal ear skin fibroblasts. Methods: Miniature pig fibroblasts were transfected with ${\alpha}GT$ gene-targeting vector. Resulting gene-targeted fibroblasts were used for nuclear transfer (NT) to produce heterozygous ${\alpha}GT$ gene-targeted piglets. Fibroblasts isolated from ear skin biopsies of these piglets were cultured for 6 to 8 passages to induce loss of heterozygosity (LOH) and treated with biotin-conjugated IB4 that binds to galactose-${\alpha}$-1,3-galactose, an epitope produced by ${\alpha}GT$. Using magnetic activated cell sorting, cells with monoallelic disruption of ${\alpha}GT$ were removed. Remaining cells with LOH carrying biallelic disruption of ${\alpha}GT$ were used for the second round NT to produce homozygous ${\alpha}GT$ gene-targeted piglets. Results: Monoallelic mutation of ${\alpha}GT$ gene was confirmed by polymerase chain reaction in fibroblasts. Using these cells as nuclear donors, three heterozygous ${\alpha}GT$ gene-targeted piglets were produced by NT. Fibroblasts were collected from ear skin biopsies of these piglets, and homozygosity was induced by LOH. The second round NT using these fibroblasts resulted in production of three homozygous ${\alpha}GT$ knockout piglets. Conclusion: The present study demonstrates that the time required for the production of ${\alpha}GT$-deficient miniature pigs could be reduced significantly by postnatal skin biopsies and subsequent selection of mitotic recombinants. Such procedure may be beneficial for the production of homozygote knockout animals, especially in species, such as pigs, that require a substantial length of time for breeding.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.138-146
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• 2019

Objectives : This study examined the association between depression and survival time in terminal cancer patients admitted to the palliative care unit. Emotional problems are important for terminal cancer patients in the palliative care unit, and evaluation of patients' depression plays an important role in treatment planning. Methods : From October 2015 to August 2018, we conducted a retrospective study of 291 terminal cancer patients admitted to a palliative care unit at a university hospital and evaluated depression with PHQ-9 at admission. Of the 291 patients, 146 (50.2%) completed PHQ-9 but 145 (49.8%) were not evaluated due to loss of consciousness or rejection. Results : 4-week survival rate in the Kaplan-Meier survival analysis were 45.4% in the non-depressed group (PHQ-9<10) and 18.7% in the depressed group (PHQ-9≥10). According to the severity of depression, in the Cox proportional hazard model, the risk of mortality in moderate, moderately sever and severe group was 2.778, 1.882 and 3.423 times higher than minimal group, respectively. Conclusions : Of the patients with terminal cancer who were admitted to the palliative care unit, the survival time was shorter in the depressed group than in the non-depressed group. Further research is needed to determine if treatment of depression increase the survival in terminal cancer patients.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.497-507
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• 2000

Purpose: We have examined the utility of $^{99m}Tc$-MAG3 perfusion indices for assessing renal graft function in early post-transplantation period. Materials and Methods: Our study included 80 renal transplant recipients (48 men and 32 women, mean age: 40.3 years). Diagnosis was based on biopsy, laboratory data and clinical course. Renal scintigraphy (RS) was obtained using 100 MBq of $^{99m}Tc$-MAG3 from 11 days to 23 days of kidney transplantation. We measured 5 indices in whole-kidney (WK) and cortical (C) renograms; Hilson's perfusion index (PI), transplant perfusion index (TP) and transplant function index (TF) as perfusion parameter, and the time to peak activity (Tmax) and the ratio of renal counts at 20 min to that at 3 min (K20/3) as functional parameter. Results: The diagnoses at the day of RS were normal graft (NG) in 44, acute rejection (AR) in 14, acute tubular necrosis (ATN) in 10, and Cyclosporine A nephrotoxicity (CsA) in 12. TP and TF were significantly decreased in AR, ATN and CsA, compared to those in NG. K20/3 of AR and ATN wore significantly greater than that of NG. WK-Tmax of AR was significantly longer than that of NG. K20/3 of AR and C-K20/3 of ATN were significantly prolonged relative to those of CsA. There were no statistically significant perfusion indices among complication groups. Conclusion: TP and TF reflecting microperfusion and initial tubular extraction are reliable in assessing graft function. However, it is required to correlate perfusion indices with functional indices and clinical course in differentiating from one another among complication groups.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.350-358
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• 2017

The hemolysis index (HI) is semi-quantitative marker for hemolysis. Because the characteristics of the HI vary from one commercial platform to another, no standardization or harmonization of the HI is currently available. Specimens (N=40) randomly selected from clinical patients were artificially hemolyzed in vitro. The serum of the specimens was then diluted with a 20 mg/dL difference between 0~300 mg/dL based on serum hemoglobin measured using the XE-2100 hematology automation equipment (Sysmex, Japan). Diluted serum was measured using the Hitachi-7600 biochemical automation equipment (Hitachi, Japan) to differentiate between HI and serum hemoglobin. The data showed linearity between HI and serum hemoglobin and that HI 1 contained approximately 20 mg/dL of serum hemoglobin. To determine the blood rejection threshold, the HI was divided into three groups: HI 0~1, HI 4~6, HI 9~15. After another batch of clinical specimens (N=40) was measured using a Hitachi-7600 (Hitachi, Japan), each specimen was moved forward and backward with the piston of the syringe to induce an artificial in vitro hemolysis, then measured again with a Hitachi-7600 (Hitachi, Japan). The percentage difference between the three groups was analyzed by ANOVA or the Kruskal-Wallis test. In the post-test, there were significant differences between the HI 0~1 and the HI 5~6: Glucose, creatinine, total protein, AST, direct bilirubin, uric acid, phosphorus, triglyceride, LDH, CPK, Magnesium, and potassium levels. Because many clinical tests differed significantly, the threshold for hemolysis could be appropriate for HI 5 (serum hemoglobin 100 mg/dL).

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.63-70
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• 2001

Purpose: The aim of this study is to evaluate the effective role of living-related liver transplantation (LRLT) on posttransplant linear growth in children. Methods: Thirty six children were enrolled who received LRLT at Asan Medical Center from December, 1994 to February, 1999 and showed more than one-year postoperative survival. Mean height standard deviation score (zH) was analyzed according to medical records including heights during pretransplant and posttransplant follow-up periods. Results: zH of total children showed significant linear growth after LRLT from -1.58 to 0.33 at 24 posttransplant month (p<0.05). zH in children under 6 years of age, to exclude the effect of adolescent linear growth spurt, showed increment in height (p<0.05). Linear growth of children with liver cirrhosis improved and that with fulminant hepatitis was matained same. While stunted children (mean zH=-2.30) achieved good catch-up growth after transplantation, children with normal growth remained same. Children with significant hepatic dysfunction after LRLT such as chronic rejection or posttransplant lymphoproliferative disorder showed retarded posttrasplant linear growth. There was no statistical difference according to the type of immunosuppressants. Conclusion: LRLT resulted in adequate or catch-up linear growth in children with acute, chronic and metabolic liver disease. Successful LRLT suggested to be a promising option not only in long term survival but also in normal linear growth.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.46 no.6
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• pp.485-494
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• 2013

$CO_2$ Monitoring, Mitigation and Verification (MMV) is the essential part in the Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) project in order to assure the storage permanence economically and environmentally. In large-scale CCS projects in the world, the seismic time-lapse survey is a key technology for monitoring the behavior of injected $CO_2$. In this study, we developed a basic process procedure for 3-D seismic baseline data from the Aquistore project, Estevan, Canada. Major target formations of Aquistore CCS project are the Winnipeg and the Deadwood sandstone formations located between 1,800 and 1,900 ms in traveltime. The analysis of trace energy and similarity attributes of seismic data followed by spectral decomposition are carried out for the characterization of $CO_2$ injection zone. High trace energies are concentrated in the northern part of the survey area at 1,800 ms and in the southern part at 1,850 ms in traveltime. The sandstone dominant regions are well recognized with high reflectivity by the trace energy analysis. Similarity attributes show two structural discontinuities trending the NW-SE direction at the target depth. Spectral decomposition of 5, 20 and 40 Hz frequency contents discriminated the successive E-W depositional events at the center of the research area. Additional noise rejection and stratigraphic interpretation on the baseline data followed by applying appropriate imaging technique will be helpful to investigate the differences between baseline data and multi-vintage monitor data.

• Journal of Korea Society of Industrial Information Systems
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.15-24
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• 2007

The recognition of postal address images is indispensable for the automatic sorting of postal envelopes. The process of the address image recognition is composed of three steps-address image preprocessing, character recognition, address interpretation. The extracted character images from the preprocessing step are forwarded to the character recognition step, in which multiple candidate characters with reliability scores are obtained for each character image extracted. aracters with reliability scores are obtained for each character image extracted. Utilizing those character candidates with scores, we obtain the final valid address for the input envelope image through the address interpretation step. The envelope sorting rate depends on the performance of all three steps, among which character recognition step could be said to be very important. The good character recognizer would be the one which could produce valid candidates with very reliable scores to help the address interpretation step go easy. In this paper, we propose the method of generating character candidates with reliable recognition scores. We utilize the existing MLP(multilayered perceptrons) neural network of the address recognition system in the current automatic postal envelope sorters, as the classifier for the each image from the preprocessing step. The MLP is well known to be one of the best classifiers in terms of processing speed and recognition rate. The false alarm problem, however, might be occurred in recognition results, which made the address interpretation hard. To make address interpretation easy and improve the envelope sorting rate, we propose promising methods to reestimate the recognition score (confidence) of the existing MLP classifier: the generation method of the statistical recognition properties of the classifier and the method of the combination of the MLP and the subspace classifier which roles as a reestimator of the confidence. To confirm the superiority of the proposed method, we have used the character images of the real postal envelopes from the sorters in the post office. The experimental results show that the proposed method produces high reliability in terms of error and rejection for individual characters and non-characters.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.257-264
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• 2006

This study investigated the effects of hybrid process(chemical coagulation, Fenton oxidation and ceramic UF(ultrafiltration)) on COD and color removals of commercial reactive dyestuffs. In the case of chemical coagulation, the optimal concentrations of $Fe^{3+}$ coagulant for COD and color removals of RB49(reactive blue 49) and RY84(reactive yellow 84) were determined according to the different coagulant dose at the optimal pH. They were 2.78 mM(pH 7) in RB49 and 1.85 mM(pH 6) in RY84, respectively. In the case of Fenton oxidation, the optimal concentrations of $Fe^{3+}\;and\;H_2O_2$ were obtained. Optimal $[Fe^{2+}]:[H_2O_2]$ molar ratio of COD and color removals of RB49 and RY84 were 4.41:5.73 mM and 1.15:0.81 mM, respectively. In the case of ceramic UF, the flux and rejection of supernatant after Fenton oxidation were investigated. After ceramic UF for 9 hr, the average flux of RB49 and RY84 solutions were $53.4L/m^2hr\;and\;67.4L/m^2hr$ at 1 bar, respectively. In addition, the permeate flux increased and the average flux recovery were 98.5-99.9%(RB49) and 91.0-97.3%(RY84) according to adopting off-line cleaning(5% $H_2SO_4$). Finally, COD and color removals were 91.6-95.7% and 99.8% by hybrid process, respectively.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.67-77
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• 1990

This study was intended to analyse the relation between the psychic traumatic experience and the psychological health of the aged. The authors carried out this study by means of the combined anxiety-depression scale(CADS) and the preadolescence traumatic experience scale(PTES) with 278 aged men and women residing in Taegu from September to October 1988. The results were as follows : 1. Based on the scores avaluated by CADS, the scores of the both groups showed that comparative group was accounted for $40.15{\pm}6.19$, while the experimental group for $57.75{\pm}6.37$, which showed significantly higher score in the experimental group(p<0.001). 2. The experimental group showed significantly higher early experience score than the comparative group in the dietary difficulty, alcoholism among family members, disunion between husband and wife, trouble between mother and children, early mother loss, parent's indifference and unwanted birth(p<0.001). 3. The experimental group showed higher early experience score than the comparative group by sex, age, marital status and grown location(p<0.001). 4. When the subjects were included in the unemployed and in the middle or low classes and their parents were engaged in agriculture and commercial business and believing in buddhism or non-religion, showed higher experience score (p<0.001).

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.3-13
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• 1992

For the purpose of better understanding of RAD children, comparisons were performed about the developmental and psychopathological characteristics between RAD and PDD children. Study subjects were the children between the ages 2 and 6. who visitied SNUCH Child and Adolescent Psychiatry OPD or treated in Day Treatment Center during May, 1989 and Sep., 1991, diagnosed by the child psychiatrist as RAD or PDD according to DSM-III-R diagnostic criteria. A total of 40 children were included in the study. 20 were RAD(18 boys, 2 girls). 20 were PDD(20 boys). PEP was performed to all study subjects, by the raters blind to psychiatric diagnosis of each. And analysis was done about the level of developmental functioning score and psychopathological scores between RAD and PDD children. The results are as follows 'There were retardation on the general developmental functioning in RAD children, and the severity of retardation were lined up as perceptual ability>imitation>gross motor>cogitive language>eye-hand coordination>fine motor. Characteristics of psychopathology in RAD children were lined up by severity as language>play>relationship>affection >sensory. Group differences of the two shows on PDD group rejection score was significantly higher on the perception item. while RAD was superior on the perception emerging response. Differences of the psychopathology between two groups were on such areas as ; Affection, which was significantly higher on 'Absent' in RAD, while significantly higher on 'severe' in PDD children. On the interest for the play and materials. sensory and language areas, RAD children were significantly higher ratings on 'Absent' than PDD children.