• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.45 no.5
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• pp.295-300
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• 2012

Background: With growing attention to the aortopathy associated with aortic valve diseases, the number of candidates for accompanying ascending aorta and/or root replacement is increasing among the patients who require aortic valve replacement (AVR). However, such procedures have been considered more risky than AVR alone. This study aimed to compare the surgical outcome of isolated AVR and AVR combined with aortic procedures. Materials and Methods: A total of 86 patients who underwent elective AVR between 2004 and June 2010 were divided into two groups: complex AVR (n=50, AVR with ascending aorta replacement in 24 and the Bentall procedure in 26) and simple AVR (n=36). Preoperative characteristics, surgical data, intra- and postoperative allogenic blood transfusion requirement, the postoperative clinical course, and major complications were retrospectively reviewed and compared. Results: The preoperative mean logistic European System for Cardiac Operative Risk Evaluation (%) did not differ between the groups: $11.0{\pm}7.8%$ in the complex AVR group and $12.3{\pm}8.0%$ in the simple AVR group. Although complex AVR required longer cardiopulmonary bypass ($152.4{\pm}52.6$ minutes vs. $109.7{\pm}22.7$ minutes, p=0.001), the quantity of allogenic blood products did not differ ($13.4{\pm}14.7$ units vs. $13.9{\pm}11.2$ units). There was no mortality, mechanical circulatory support, stroke, or renal failure requiring hemodialysis/filtration. No difference was found in the incidence of bleeding (40% vs. 33.3%) which was defined as red blood cell transfusion ${\geq}5$ units, reoperation, or intentional delayed closure. The incidence of mediastinitis (2.0% vs. 0%), ventilator ${\geq}24$ hours (4.0% vs. 2.8%), atrial fibrillation (18.0% vs. 25.0%), mean intensive care unit stay (34.5 hours vs. 38.8 hours), and median hospital stay (8 days vs. 7 days) did not differ, either. Conclusion: AVR combined with additional aortic or root replacement showed an excellent outcome and recovery course equivalent to that after isolated AVR.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.25 no.9
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• pp.45-55
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• 2009

The quality of railroad trackbed fills has been controlled by field measurements of density and bearing resistance of plate-load tests. The control measures are compatible with the design procedures whose design parameter is $k_{30}$ for both ordinary-speed railways and high-speed railways. However, one of fatal flaws of the design procedures is that there are no simple laboratory measurement procedures for the design parameters ($k_{30}$ or, $E_{v2}$ and $E_{v2}/E_{v1}$) in design stage. To overcome the defect, the compressional wave velocity was adopted as a control measure, in parallel with the advent of the new design procedure, and its measurement technique was proposed in the preliminary investigation. The key concept of the quality control procedure is that the target value for field compaction control is the compressional wave velocity determined at optimum moisture content using modified compaction test, and direct-arrival method is used for the field measurements during construction, which is simple and reliable enough for practice engineers to access. This direct-arrival method is well-suited for such a shallow and homogeneous fill lift in terms of applicability and cost effectiveness. The sensitivity of direct-arrival test results according to the compaction quality was demonstrated at a test site, and it was concluded that compressional wave velocity can be effectively used as quality control measure. The experimental background far the companion study (Park et al., 2009) was established through field and laboratory measurements of the compressional wave velocity.

• Journal of the Institute of Electronics Engineers of Korea TC
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• v.43 no.3 s.345
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• pp.1-9
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• 2006

In this paper, we propose a MIMO-OFDMA (Multi Input Multi Output-Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access) system based on beamforming for performance improvement of downlink real-time traffic transmission in harsh channel conditions with low CIR (Carrier-to-Interference Ratio). In the proposed system, we first consider the M-GTA-SBA (Modified-Grouped Transmit Antenna-Simple Bit Allocation) using effective CSI (Channel State Information) calculation procedure based on spatial resource grouping, which is adequate for the combination of MRT (Maximum Ratio Transmission) in the transmitter and MRC (Maximum Ratio Combining) in the receiver. In addition, to reduce feedback information for the beamforming, we also apply QEGT (Quantized Equal Gain Transmission) based on quantization of amplitudes and phases of beam weights. Furthermore, considering multi-user environments, we propose the P-SRA (Proposed-Simple Resource Allocation) algorithm for fair and efficient resource allocation. Simulation results reveal that the proposed MIMO-OFDMA system achieves significant improvement of spectral efficiency in low CRI region as compared to a typical open-loop MIMO-OFDMA system using pseudo-orthogonal space time block code and H-ARQ IR (Hybrid-Automatic Repeat Request Incremental Redundancy).

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.209-218
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• 2011

Ginseng has been used as a general tonic agent to invigorate the human body as an adaptogenic agent. In a previous report, we have shown that ginseng contains a novel glycolipoprotein called gintonin. The main function of gintonin is to transiently enhance intracellular free $Ca^{2+}$ $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ levels in animal cells. The previous method for gintonin isolation included multiple steps using organic solvents. In the present report, we developed a simple method for the preparation of crude gintonin from ginseng root as well as stem and leaf, which produced a higher yield of gintonin than the previous one. The yield of gintonin was 0.20%, 0.29%, and 0.81% from ginseng root, stem, and leaf, respectively. The apparent molecular weight of gintonin isolated from stem and leaf through sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis was almost same as that from root but the compositions of amino acids, carbohydrates or lipids differed slightly between them. We also examined the effects of crude gintonin from ginseng root, stem, and leaf on endogenous $Ca^{2+}$-activated $Cl^-$ channel (CaCC) activity of Xenopus oocytes through mobilization of $[Ca^{2+}]_i$. We found that the order of potency for the activation of CaCC was ginseng root > stem > leaf. The $ED_{50}$ was $1.4{\pm}1.4$, $4.5{\pm}5.9$, and $3.9{\pm}1.1$ mg/mL for root, stem and leaf, respectively. In the present study, we demonstrated for the first time that in addition to ginseng root, ginseng stem and leaf also contain gintonin. Gintonin can be prepared from a simple method with higher yield of gintonin from ginseng root, stem, and leaf. Finally, these results demonstrate the possibility that ginseng stem and leaf could also be utilized for ginstonin preparation after a simple procedure, rather than being discarded.

• Environmental and Resource Economics Review
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.611-635
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• 2003

This study deals with the "Dissemination Stage", the final step in the R&D process consisting of R&DDD($R&D^3$ : Research & Development, Demonstration, Dissemination). At the "Dissemination Stage", the newly configured technical design is compared with other alternatives to come up with the most desirable selection. The assessment conducted at this stage is not a simple procedure. It goes through the complex evaluation process in which various elements including economic effects and technical characteristics are considered. The reason for taking such a complex procedure is that the assessment, selection and application of the desirable technical alternative is critical for the company's competitive edge in every field of industrial sectors, thus influencing its survival and continuous growth. This study reviews the AHP method for assessing technical alternatives of the heat supply system design. And, to show the practical validity of the AHP method, it is applied to the evaluation of waste heat system alternatives in the field of energy supply system technology.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.14 no.1_2
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• pp.1-12
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• 1999

Recently, several new methods for the detection of genetic damages in vitro and in vivo based on molecular biological techniques were introduced according to the rapid progress in toxicology combined with cellular and molecular biology. Among these methods, mouse lymphoma thymidine kanase (tk) gene forward mutation assay, single cell gel electrophoresis (comet assay) and transgenic animal and cell line model as a target gene of lac I (Big Blue) and lac Z (Muta Mouse) gene mutation are newly introduced based on molecular toxicological approaches. The mouse lymphoma tk$\^$+/-/ gene assay (MOLY) using L5178Y tk$\^$+/-/ mouse lymphoma cell line is one of the mammalian forward mutation assays, and has many advantages and more sensitive than hprt assay. The target gene of MOLY is a heterozygous tk$\^$+/-/ gene located in 11 chromosome, so it is able to detect the wide range of genetic changes like point mutation, deletion, rearrangement, and mitotic recombination within tk gene or deletion of entire chromosome 11. The comet assay is a rapid, simple, visual and sensitive technique for measuring and analysing DNA breakages in mammalian cells, Also, transgenic animal and cell line models, which have exogenous DNA incorporated into their genome, carry recoverable shuttle vector containing reporter genes to assess endogenous effects or alteration in specific genes related to disease process, are powerful tools to study the mechanism of mutation in vivo and in vitro, respectively. Also in vivo acridine orange supravital staining micronucleus assay by using mouse peripheral reticulocytes was introduced as an alternative of bone marrow micronucleus assay. In this respect, there was an International workshop on genotoxicity procedure (IWGTP) supported by OECD and EMS (Environmental Mutagen Society) at Washington D. C. in March 25-26, 1999. The objective of IWGTP is to harmonize the testing procedures internationally, and to extend to finalization of OECD guideline, and to the agreement of new guidelines under the International Conference of Harmonization (ICH) for these methods mentioned above. Therefore, we introduce and review the principle, detailed procedure, and application of MOLY, comet assay, transgenic mutagenesis assay and supravital staining micronucleus assay.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.4 no.4
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• pp.37-48
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• 1984

The yield-line analysis is used for earring out the limit analysis of reinforced concrete slabs which are for example like those of vertical walls of tanks subjected to the loads of hydrostatical type. It is considered both isotropic and orthotropic reinforcement using the coefficient of orthotropy with different edge conditions. The yield-line analysis is carried out by using the vertical work method and four collapse mechanisms including the fan mechanisms which is more realistic than over diagonal mechanisms is considered. It is found that the fan mechanisms are more complicated than ever simple diagonal mechanisms which have used for the orthotropically reinforced concrete slabs subjected to hydrostatic pressures. Especially Horton's study is extended in this study, and they are formulated to the constrained multi-variables nonlinear optimization problems, which are solved by the Rosen-Brock Hillclimb Procedure Program and are more critical.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.137-141
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• 2006

Purpose : It has been generally accepted that lobectomy is a standard surgical procedure in treatment of benign thyroid nodules. However lobectomy may cause postoperative hypothyroidism. Most of surgeons believe that nodulectomy has its limitation in treatment of thyroid nodules due to recurrence of nodules and presence of cancer. The current study attempts to determine whether nodulectomy is justified in aspects of preservation of thyroid function, risk of recurrence and complications. Methods: Data was collected retrospectively on 74 patients undergoing thyroidectomy(single nodulectomy, n=43;bilateral nodulectomies, n=9;lobectomy with nodulectomy, n=22) for benign thyroid nodules from 1999 to 2004. All patients were evaluated for complication, postoperative thyroid function, and recurrence of benign nodule and cancer were followed by regular ultrasonographic examination for 2-6 years. Results : The pathologic results of 74 patients were nodular hyperplasia(55 patients), Hashimoto's thyroiditis(8 patients), follicular adenoma(7 patients) and papillary carcinoma(4 patients). Average operation time was 30 minutes from skin incision to specimen out. In postoperative follow-up of 70 patients, six cases(8.5%) became mild hypothyroid, and ultrasonographically detected micronodule was also six cases(8.5%). There were no other complications. Conclusion : Thyroid nodulectomy appears to have advantages of relatively few complication and simple procedure with no access to laryngeal nerves. Therefore, it may be one of treatment options in selected cases of benign thyroid nodules.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.59 no.3
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• pp.5.1-5.10
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• 2017

Background: Bovine respiratory disease (BRD) is one of the leading causes of economic losses in the beef and dairy industry. Reliable antemortem tools for diagnosing BRD would improve the efficacy of treatment and reduce costs. Here we examined whether the relatively simple technique of thoracoscopy can support BRD diagnosis under field conditions. We also compared various equipment set-ups in order to optimize the safety and efficacy of the procedure. A total of 24 thoracoscopic procedures were performed in 17 calves diagnosed with BRD and in 2 healthy control calves. Rigid and flexible endoscopes and industrial videoscopes were tested using various insertion approaches. The suitability of the technique was assessed in terms of duration, volume of air extracted, visualization score, and image quality. Safety was assessed in terms of rectal temperature, body weight, breaths/min, presence of fibrinogen, pain score, recovery time, intraoperative complications and risk of laceration or threatening collapse. Results: Insertion of a flexible endoscope via a right, dorso-caudal approach at the $5^{th}$ intercostal space allowed complete examination of the right lung in 15 min, as well as identification of main lung lesions and adherences in calves with BRD, without compromising calf welfare. While the dorso-caudal approach was optimal, it was associated with substantial discomfort when rigid endoscopes were used, minimal complications or mortality due to thoracoscopy were observed up to 28 days after the procedure. Videoscopes were as safe and easy to use as endoscopes, but endoscopes provided better image quality. Conclusion: This study provides the first field evidence that thoracoscopy can be safe to explore BRD-diseased calves. These results justify a larger study to rigorously assess the diagnostic performance of the technique.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Nondestructive Testing
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.158-162
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• 2004

Reliability of welded structures in power plant facilities is very important, and their reliability evaluation requires exact materials properties. But, the conventional PQR (Procedure Qualification Record) can hardly reflect the real material properties in the field because the test is only done on specimens with simulated welding. Therefore, a continuous indentation technique is proposed in this study for simple and non-destructive testing of in-field structures. This test measures the indentation load-depth curve during indentation and analyzes the mechanical properties such as the yield strength, tensile strength and work hardening index. This technique has been applied to evaluate the tensile properties of the weldment in the main steam pipe and hot reheater pipe in power plants under construction and in operation.