• Journal of Life Science
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.194-201
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• 2011

Caudal-related homeodomain proteins play critical roles in intestine development and maintenance from Drosophila to humans. The loss or reduction of CDX1 and CDX2 are known to be associated with colon cancers. It has been well known that colorectal carcinogenesis is associated with serious oxidative stress and that catalase is decreased in colon carcinomas. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms remain elusive. Here, we report that Caudal-related homeodomain proteins positively regulate catalase expression in both Drosophila and humans. We found that Drosophila caudal heterozygotes have a decreased catalase expression and increased ROS generation in the hindgut, and that the overexpression of Caudal increases catalase promoter activity and catalase mRNA levels. We also found that CDX1 and CDX2 up-regulate catalase promoter activity and protein levels in HCT116 cells - human colorectal carcinoma cell lines. The level of catalase protein in several colorectal carcinoma cell lines was associated with CDX1 expression. These results suggest that CDX1 and CDX2 may be involved in intestinal homeostasis and tumorigenesis via regulation of catalase expression.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.48 no.5
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• pp.424-429
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• 2016

Globally, obesity has been recognized as a serious health problem. Recently, slimming foods for weight loss and maintenance were found to contain anti-obesity drugs, their analogues, and prohibited ingredients. To avoid inspections by the Government, structurally modified analogs have been continuously synthesized. For rapid determination of adulterated slimming products, we simultaneously analyzed 21 illegal compounds using liquid chromatography (LC) equipped with photo diode array, and LC coupled with tandem mass spectrometry. The validation of the method was performed with regard to selectivity, linearity, limit of detection, limit of quantification, precision, and accuracy. We purchased 128 samples from the Korean market and online sources in the year 2015. In 31 samples, 3 illegal compounds were detected as follows: 9.9-135.3 mg/g of sibutramine, 0.2-17.5 mg/g of yohimbine, and 1.8 mg/g of icariin. This simultaneous detection method might prove to be a simple and rapid analysis for monitoring illegal compounds in slimming foods.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.112-130
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• 1992

Patient care services are provided to individual patients in response to their health needs produced by illnesses or injuries. The services are often addressed to very serious conditions, and also they constitute the most expensive component of health care services. Therefore, the importance of quality is emphasized, but there are many indications that patient care quality is far from a satisfactory state in most of the countries. Based upon this observation, it is attempted to examine obstacles and approaches to quality improvement in patient care services. In doing so, following Taguchi's(1986) definition of product quality, quality of patient care services is conceived of as better when the less is the sociental loss attributalbe to variability of intended function and harmful side effects they emhibit after being delivered. Some distinguishing features of medical care sector pose difficulties in implementing effective quality improvement programs in patient care services. Nevertheless, newly proposed method of quality management, based on industrial quality management approach, seems to have a great deal of potential to effectively cope with such difficulties. This method, unlike the traditional approach to quality assurance, focuses on total organisational processes, not individuals, as the obproach to quality assurance, focuses on total organizational processes, not individuals, as the objects of quality improvement; variation, not comparison with standards, in quality measurement; and continuous improvement, not removing only bad quality care, as an ideal. Prerequisite to a successful use of any quality mangement method is motivating providers to improve quality. Conceivable approaches for such motivation are self-regulation, external controls and promotion of competition. Since these approaches are not mutually exclusive, they may be employed in an appropriate combination. In Korea, medical care providers are now functioning under the circumstances where they have little reason for making efforts to improve quality of their services. Once these circumstantial conditions are changed to exert pressures on providers to improve quality, the use of adequate quality management method becomes an issue. In this connection, much attention shoould be directed to the newly proposed method described above. In all these efforts for improving quality of patient care services, health insurance would be able to play a pivotal role. Poviders of medical care, buth indiciduals and organizations, are usually very responsive to the measures that affect their financing, and thus health insurance can be a strong instrument for motivationg providers to improve quality. Also, the insurance continuously acquires data on patient care, which could be processed to produce information required to effective quality control.

• Journal of the Korea institute for structural maintenance and inspection
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.171-177
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• 2010

As concrete structures are exposed to chemical substances, damaged from salt, or progressed to the neutralization, the surface damage of the structures is generated timely fashion, resulting shortened service life. Especially, the sulfate erosion causes rapid surface defects, and the steel skeleton becomes corroded due to the water infiltration, generating stability deterioration of the concrete structure. In this study, the physical characteristics of the acid-resistant mortar with aluminosilicates was investigated in order to resolve problems of the acid resistance, one of the most serious problems of the cement type repair material. As the result of the experiment, the test specimen turned to exhibit almost equivalent physical characteristics with those of concrete sectional repair materials in terms of compressive and bending strengths. As both the cement sectional repair material and the test specimen were immerged in sulfuric acid solution to examine weight changes, the test specimens exhibited only 4% loss of their weights while the cement sectional repair materials reached at the level of 80% or above, proving the excellence acid resistant characteristics of the test specimens. Consequently, the physical characteristics of acid resistant mortar with aluminosilicates were revealed to be superior than those of concrete sectional repair materials. It can be utilized as a sectional repair material where the acidic erosion is anticipated.

• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.12 no.8
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• pp.91-102
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• 2014

Purpose - Today, the importance of the service industry has increased. Social welfare businesses that follow the non-profit principle have neglected the distribution of the service. However, an intangible service, when produced and consumed, has a similar service delivery system to common service distribution and social welfare. Therefore, the author has assumed the efficiency of the service delivery system of social welfare to be equivalent to the service distribution industry. Hence, various kinds of social welfare services for the prevention of elderly suicide, from the perspective of distribution, are discussed. Studies on generational relations have thus far investigated depression from parent-children conflict, and satisfaction with their lives. Studies on the relationship between family solidarity and elderly suicide by analyzing existing social problems are rare. This study investigated the effects of family solidarity between old parents and adult children upon elderly suicide by analyzing serious psychological and social problems. This study revealed basic measures for elderly suicide prevention through services that could elevate family solidarity from the perspective of social welfare service distribution. Research design, data, and methodology - The subjects were 468 elderly, 65 years or older, at 18 senior welfare centers and halls for the elderly at Seoul and Gyeonggi-do. Questionnaire surveys, excluding invalid answers, were analyzed. Convenience sampling was used from February 5, 2014 to March 5, 2014. The findings were: First, women and those having spouses with advanced educational backgrounds and social activities had primary solidarity such as contact solidarity, affectionate solidarity, functional solidarity (giving help), and functional solidarity (receiving help). In addition, those who had good health, from a subjective point of view, had more solidarity. Second, the elderly who were men and single, and who had poorer educational backgrounds thought of suicide, lacked social activities, and had poor health, from a subjective point of view. Third, family solidarity between old parents and adult children had significantly negative influence on the suicidal ideation of the elderly. Results - The study revealed the following implications. First, the preparation for old age should consider not only economic welfare but also the psychological welfare due to the relationship with children. Second, the phenomenon of elderly suicide because of a lack of family solidarity could increase national loss and have great influence upon welfare in old age. Therefore, planning of welfare services for the elderly should consider the value of relationships with children to improve the psychological welfare of the elderly. Third, the social expenses of government-oriented support for parents should be discussed from the people's point of view. Conclusions - The subjects of the study comprised the elderly at Seoul and Gyenggi-do; therefore, it would be difficult to extrapolate the findings to all the elderly in the nation. The subject visited senior welfare centers as well as halls for the elderly; therefore, it would be difficult to assume that the trends were representative of the elderly in the nation.

• Archives of Craniofacial Surgery
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.116-120
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• 2011

Purpose: Scalp avulsion is a life-threatening injury that may cause trauma to the forehead, eyebrows, and periauricular tissue. It is difficult to treat scalp avulsion as it may lead to severe bleeding. Therefore, emergency scalp replantation surgery is necessary, and we must consider the function, aesthetics, and psychology of the patients. A case of scalp avulsion leading to massive bleeding was encountered by these authors, which led to a failure to achieve the proper operation conditions in an adequate time period. Methods: A 49-year-old female was hospitalized due to having had her head caught in a rotatory machine, causing complete scalp avulsion which included the dorsum of the nose, both eyebrows, and ears. Emergent microsurgical replantation was performed, where a superficial temporal artery and a vein were anastomosed, but the patient's vital signs were too unstable for further operation due to excessive blood loss. Three days after the microanastomosis, venous congestion developed at the replanted scalp, and a medicinal leech was used. Leech therapy resolved the venous congestion. A demarcation then developed between the vitalized scalp tissue and the necrotized area. Debridement was performed 2 times on the necrotized scalp area. Finally, split-thickness skin graft with a dermal acellular matrix ($Matriderm^{(R)}$) was performed on the defective areas, which included the left temporal area, the occipital area, and both eyebrows. Results: The forehead, vertex, right temporal area, and half of the occipital area were successfully replanted, and the hair at the replanted scalp was preserved. As stated above, two-thirds of the scalp survived; the patient could cover the skin graft area with her hair, and could wear a wig. Conclusion: Complete scalp avulsion needs emergent replantation with microsurgical revascularization, but it often leads to serious vital conditions. We report a case with acceptable results, although the microanastomosed vessel was minimal due to the patient's unstable vital signs.

• Korean Journal of Breeding Science
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.488-495
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• 2009

In recent years, an increasing amount of research has been conducted on the yield loss of soybean crop caused by Riptortus clavatus, a serious pest of legumes. The objective of this study were to examine crop damage caused by various population densities of R. clavatus and determine the association of unique growth and seed characteristics with crop damage rate in conventional soybean fields. Major growth responses to R. clavatus were examined. The cultivars that were not as seriously damaged by R. clavatus were Pungsannamulkong, Sobaegknamulkong, Duyoukong, and Sinpaldal 2, but Myeongjunamulkong, Mallikong, and Hwangkeumkong were significantly (P<0.05) damaged. The rate of seed damage caused by R. clavatus was 8.2% in a group of brown colored pubescence, while the rate was 13.0% in a group of the gray colored. Crop damage by R. clavatus clearly more reduced in cultivars with dark hilum colors including dark brown, brown, and grayish brown than those with yellow hilum colors. Concerning pod colors, crop damage was less significant in cultivars with dark brown pod color than with the light brown. Cultivars with short pod length (4.0-4.5 cm) at full seed (R6) stage showed lower seed damage rates by R. clavatus than those with long pod length (>5.6 cm). Therefore, characteristics of hilum, pod, pubescence colors, and pod length were significantly related and linked to the cultivar resistance to R. clavatus.

• Clean Technology
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.339-347
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• 2018

In order to cope with environmental problems and climate change caused by fossil fuels, renewable energy supply is increasing year by year. Currently, waste energy accounts for 60% of renewable energy production. However, waste has a lower calorific value than fossil fuels and contains various harmful substances, which causes serious problems when applied to power generation boilers. In particular, the chlorine in the waste fuel increases slagging and fouling of boiler heat exchangers, leading to a reduction in thermal efficiency and the main cause of high temperature corrosion, lowering facility operation rate and increasing operating cost. In this study, the high temperature corrosion experiments of superheater materials (ASME SA213/ASTM A213 T2, T12 and T22 alloy steel) by alkali chlorides were conducted, and their corrosion characteristics were analyzed by the weight loss method and SEM-EDS. Experiments show that the higher the temperature and chloride content, the more corrosion occurs, and KCl further corrodes the materials compared to NaCl under the same condition. In addition, the higher the chromium content of the material, the better the corrosion resistance to the alkali chlorides.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.19 no.11
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• pp.574-582
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• 2018

In systems such as railways, automobiles, and airplanes, system malfunctions may lead to accidents, which often cause serious personal injury and economic loss. In previous studies, failure analysis has been performed, and safety measures derived using the component level information to reduce damage when a failure occurs. However, in functional safety concept, a focus is placed on lowering the frequency of occurrence of failures by performing risks analysis, setting up safety goals, and designing safety functions. Therefore, it is necessary to study how to determine the required safety function that can reduce the failure frequency to the acceptable level. To achieve this, we first studied a failure modeling method using SysML. It was then presented how several alternatives can be assessed to determine the desired safety function by simulating the generated SysML failure models and calculating the ability to reduce the failure frequency. A case study of a railway signaling system was done, demonstrating the effectiveness of the approach. We assessed whether the safety objectives were met for the alternative design of the railway signaling system through M & S. The results can be useful in that it can be applied from the early design phase and allow to choose the appropriate safety function that satisfies safety objectives among various design alternatives.

• Proceedings of the Plant Resources Society of Korea Conference
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• 2019.04a
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• pp.54-54
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• 2019

Apple (Malus domestica) is one of the most economically important fruits in Korea. But virus infection has decreased sustainable production of apple and caused the serious problems such as yield loss and poor fruit quality. Virus or viroid infection including Apple chlorotic leaf spot virus (ACLSV), Apple stem pitting virus (ASPV), Apple stem grooving virus (ASGV), Apple mosaic virus (ApMV) and Apple scar skin viroid (ASSVd) has been also reported in Korea. In many cases, apple is infected with virus and viroid with no specific symptoms, the damage caused by the virus are unaware significantly. In our research, we tried to eliminate viruses in the rootstock for the disease-free seedlings of the apple dwarfing rootstock M.9 and M.26. The method of virus elimination was meristem culture, heat($37^{\circ}C$, 6weeks) treatment and chemistry($Ribavirin^{(R)}$) treatment. The analytical methods commonly used for the detection of virus is Enzyme-linked Immuno-Sorbent Assay(ELlSA) and Reverse Transcription-polymerase Chain Reaction(RT-PCR). RT-PCR method was more 30% sensitive than ELISA method. Efficiency of method eliminate virus appeared meristem method > heat treatment > chemistry treatment. The higher acquisition rate of disease-free seedlings is 30~40% on meristem treatment. In meristem treatment, the apple dwarfing rootstock M.9 gained infection ratio of ACLSV, ASPV and ASGV were 45%, 60% and 50% respectively. In the apple dwarfing rootstock M.26, infection ratio of ACLSV, ASPV and ASGV were 40%, 55%, 55%, respectively. Based on our results, it was found that most effective method of disease-free seedlings apple dwarfing rootstocks was by meristem treatment than heat method and chemistry treatment.