• Journal of radiological science and technology
• /
• v.47 no.2
• /
• pp.125-135
• /
• 2024

This study analysed the factors that predict and influence heart disease through key indicators related to changes in left atrial and left ventricular size. Measurements recommended by the American Society of Echocardiography were used, and the influence of variables was assessed using multiple regression analysis. The results showed that left atrial volume index(LAVI) was significantly different by age, obesity, diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidaemia, and left ventricular relaxation dysfunction(p<0.05). Left ventricular mass index(LVMI) was significantly different according to age, body mass index, hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidaemia, and left ventricular relaxation dysfunction(p<0.05). Increases in LVMI and relative ventricular wall thickness(RWT) were associated with changes in LAVI(p<0.05). Age, systolic blood pressure, increased LAVI, and RWT influenced changes in LVMI, and left ventricular dysfunction was analysed as an influencing factor for both changes in LAVI and LVMI. Therefore, changes in left atrial and left ventricular size are indicators for early diagnosis and prevention of heart disease, and it is necessary to carefully observe structural changes in the heart and actively manage risk factors for the prevention and management of heart disease.

• BMB Reports
• /
• v.57 no.6
• /
• pp.263-272
• /
• 2024

Amyloid-β (Aβ) is one of the amyloidogenic intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) that self-assemble to protein aggregates, incurring cell malfunction and cytotoxicity. While Aβ has been known to regulate multiple physiological functions, such as enhancing synaptic functions, aiding in the recovery of the blood-brain barrier/brain injury, and exhibiting tumor suppression/antimicrobial activities, the hydrophobicity of the primary structure promotes pathological aggregations that are closely associated with the onset of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Aβ proteins consist of multiple isoforms with 37-43 amino acid residues that are produced by the cleavage of amyloid-β precursor protein (APP). The hydrolytic products of APP are secreted to the extracellular regions of neuronal cells. Aβ 1-42 (Aβ42) and Aβ 1-40 (Aβ40) are dominant isoforms whose significance in AD pathogenesis has been highlighted in numerous studies to understand the molecular mechanism and develop AD diagnosis and therapeutic strategies. In this review, we focus on the differences between Aβ42 and Aβ40 in the molecular mechanism of amyloid aggregations mediated by the two additional residues (Ile41 and Ala42) of Aβ42. The current comprehension of Aβ42 and Aβ40 in AD progression is outlined, together with the structural features of Aβ42/Aβ40 amyloid fibrils, and the aggregation mechanisms of Aβ42/Aβ40. Furthermore, the impact of the heterogeneous distribution of Aβ isoforms during amyloid aggregations is discussed in the system mimicking the coexistence of Aβ42 and Aβ40 in human cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and plasma.

• Journal of Radiation Industry
• /
• v.17 no.2
• /
• pp.191-197
• /
• 2023

Abstract KOMAC(Korea Multi-Purpose Accelerator Complex, KAERI) has been operating a 100 MeV proton accelerator and is going to produce ⁶⁸Ga isotope which is useful for diagnosis of cancer. So, it is necessary to develop a transport container for radio-activated targets. In this study, we carry out shielding analysis and structural analysis for the radio-activated target transport container using simulation programs. According to the Type A standard, the transport container includes an inner container and an overpack container. The main material of inner container is lead, and the shape is cylindrical with diameter of 152mm, height of 142mm and weight about 29 kg. It is planned to verify the possibility of field application through production of the transport container prototype in the future.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
• /
• v.49 no.10
• /
• pp.1073-1078
• /
• 2006

Purpose : This study was performed to assess how a fetal diagnosis of congenital heart disease affects parents, as regards pregnancy management and care of infants after birth. Methods : Database search to find out abnormal fetal echocardiography performed at Seoul National University Children's Hospital from July 1988 to June 2003 revealed 370 examinations. After excluding both arrhythmias without structural cardiac disease and multiple pregnancies, 299 pregnancies remained and this data formed the basis of this analysis. We retrospectively reviewed the medical records with special attention to pregnancy outcomes and also tried to find out factors influencing parental decisions on whether to continue or terminate pregnancy. Results : In this study, the mean gestation age at diagnosis was $28{\pm}6.0weeks$. The mean age of mothers was $30{\pm}3.9$ years old. Younger gestational ages at diagnosis(P=0.000), more severe grades of fetal heart disease(P=0.002) and younger mothers(P=0.014) correlated with terminations of pregnanies. But the grades of fetal status, the grades of associated anomaly, whether in-vitro-fertilization was carried out or not and numbers of previous children were not significant. Conclusion : This study found that the earlier gestational ages at diagnosis, younger maternal age and higher grades of fetal heart disease tended to lead parent to select abortions. Fetal echocardiographies were performed too late. Moreover Koreans have a biased view that malformation is a something incurable and a tragedy not only to oneself, but also to a family. So parents select terminations of pregnancy, even in curable cases. This is very unethical.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
• /
• v.52 no.2
• /
• pp.169-188
• /
• 2019

This study was carried out unmanned aerial photography and terrestrial laser scanning to establish digital database on original wall of Gyejoksanseong fortress, and measured ground control points for continuity of the monitoring. It also performed precise examination with the naked eye, unmanned aerial photogrammetry, endoscopy, total station and handy measurement to examine the structural stability of the original walls. The ground control points were considered as a point where visual field can be secured, 3 points were selected around each of the south and north walls. For the right side of the south original wall, aerial photogrammetry was conducted using drones and a deviation analysis of 3-dimensional digital models was performed for short-term monitoring. As a result, the two original walls were almost matched in range within 5mm, and no difference indicating displacement of stones was found, except for partial deviation. Regular monitoring of the areas with structural deformation such as bulging, weak and fracture zone by precisely examining with the naked eye and using high-resolution photo data revealed no distinct change. The inner foundation observed through endoscopy found out that filling stones of the original walls were still remained, while most filling soil was lost. As a result of measuring the total station focusing around the points with structural deformation on the original walls, the maximum displacements of the north and south walls were somewhat high with 6.6mm and 3.8mm, respectively, while the final displacements were relatively stable at below 2.9mm and 1.4mm, respectively. Handy measurement also did not reveal clear structural deformation with displacements below 0.82mm at all points. Even though the results of displacement monitoring on the original walls are stable, it is hard to secure structural stability due to the characteristics of ramparts where sudden brittle fracture occurs. Therefore, it is necessary to conduct conservational scientific diagnosis, precise monitoring, and structural analysis based on the 3-dimensional figuration information obtained in this research.

• Journal of the Korea institute for structural maintenance and inspection
• /
• v.18 no.1
• /
• pp.166-173
• /
• 2014

A noncontact nondestructive testing (NDT) method is proposed to detect the damage of pipeline structures and to identify the location of the damage. To achieve this goal, a scanning laser source actuation technique is utilized to generate a guided wave and scans a specific area to find damage location more precisely. The ND: YAG pulsed laser is used to generate Lamb wave and a piezoelectric sensor is installed to measure the structural responses. The measured responses are analyzed using three dimensional Fourier transformation (3DFT). The damage-sensitive features are extracted by wavenumber filtering based on the 3D FT. Then, flaw imaging techniques of a pipeline structures is conducted using the damage-sensitive features. Finally, the pipes with notches are investigated to verify the effectiveness and the robustness of the proposed NDT approach.

• 한국문화재보존과학회:학술대회논문집
• /
• 2004.10a
• /
• pp.15-24
• /
• 2004

The Seokgatap pagoda composed of mainly alkali granite and other minor pink-feldspar granite, fine-grained granite, granodiorite, diorite, gabbro, and tuff. Despite the small loss and damage derived from joints, its peel-off and exfoliation are serious enough to cause the heavy deterioration on the stone surface. The chemical and petrological weathering has partly replaced the original rock-forming minerals with clay minerals and iron oxyhydroxides. Based on the petrogenesis, rock materials of the pagoda is very similar to rocks of Dabotap pagoda and the Namsan granite in the Gyeongju. The central fart of the pagoda has sunken highly, which caused all the corners to split and the structural transformation to become worse. The reverse V-shaped gaps between the materials have broken stones filled in a coarse way. The iron plates inserted between the upper flat stone laid on other stones and tile pagoda body in the north and east side has been exposed in the air and corroded, discoloring of the adjacent stones. The overall diagnosis of the Seokgatap pagoda is the deteriorated functions of the stone materials, which calls for a long-term monitoring and plans to reinforce the stone surfaces. But the main body including the pagoda roof stone needs washing on a regular basis, and the many different cracks should be fixed with glue by using the fillers or hardeners designed for stone cultural properties after removing the cement mortar. In case of the replacement of the stone materials with new stones, it's necessary to examine the pagoda for the center of gravity and support intensity of the materials. The structural stability of the pagoda can be attained by taking a reinforce measure in geotechnical engineering and making a drainage. The ground humidity, which has aggravated weathering and structural instability, should be resolved by setting up a humidity reduction facility. The contamination of lichens and bryophyte around the pagoda and on the surface is serious. Thus biochemical treatments should be given too in order to prevent further biological damages and remove the vegetation growing on the discontinuous planes.

• Journal of the Korea institute for structural maintenance and inspection
• /
• v.27 no.6
• /
• pp.30-38
• /
• 2023

As the number of old buildings subject to safety inspection increases, the burden on designated institutions and management entities that are responsible for safety management is increasing. Accordingly, when selecting buildings subject to safety inspection, appropriate safety inspection standards and appropriate technology are essential. The current safety inspection standards for old buildings give low scores when it is difficult to confirm damage such as cracks in structural members due to finishing materials. This causes the evaluation results to be underestimated regardless of the actual safety status of the structure, resulting in an increase in the number of aging buildings subject to safety inspection. Accordingly, this study proposed a thermal imaging technique, a non-destructive and non-contact inspection, to detect cracks inside finishing materials. A concrete specimen was produced to observe cracks inside the finishing material using a thermal imaging camera, and thermal image data was measured by exciting a heat source on the concrete surface and cracked area. As a result of the measurement, it was confirmed that it was possible to observe cracks inside the finishing material with a width of 0.3mm, 0.5mm, and 0.7mm, but it was difficult to determine the cracks due to uneven temperature distribution due to surface peeling and peeling of the wallpaper. Accordingly, as a result of performing data analysis by deriving the amplitude and phase difference of the thermal image data, clear crack measurement was possible for 0.5mm and 0.7mm cracks. Based on this study, we hope to increase the efficiency of field application and analysis through the development of technology using big data-based deep learning in the diagnosis of internal crack damage in finishing materials.

• Journal of the Korea institute for structural maintenance and inspection
• /
• v.27 no.6
• /
• pp.102-110
• /
• 2023

PSC-I girder bridges constitute the largest proportion among highway bridges in Korea. According to the precision safety diagnosis data for the past 10 years, approximately 41.3% of the PSC-I bridges have been graded as C. Furthermore, with the increase in the aging of bridges, preemptive management is becoming more important. Damage and deterioration to the deck and girder with a long replacement cylce can have considerable impacts on the service and deterioration of a bridge. In addition, the high rate of device damages, including expansion joints and bearings, necessitates an investigation into the influence of the device damage in the structural members of the bridge. Therefore, this study defined representative PSC-I girder bridges with single and multiple spans to evaluate heterogeneous damages that incorporate the damage of the bridge member and device with the deterioration of the deck. The heterogeneous damages increased a crack area ratio compared to the individual single damage. For the single-span bridge, the occurrence of bearing damage leads to the spread of crack distribution in the girder, and in the case of multi-span bridges, expansion joint damage leads to the spread of crack distribution in the deck. The research underscores that bridge devices, when damaged, can cause subsequent secondary damage due to improper repair and replacement, which emphasizes the need for continuous observation and responsive action to the damages of the main devices.

• Journal of the Korea institute for structural maintenance and inspection
• /
• v.12 no.2
• /
• pp.49-58
• /
• 2008

Generally, steel corrosion occurs in concrete structures due to carbonation in down-town area and underground site and it propagates to degradation of structural performance. In general diagnosis and inspection, only carbonation depth in sound concrete is evaluated but unsound concrete such as joint and cracked area may occur easily in a concrete member due to construction process. In this study, field survey of carbonation for RC columns in down-town area is performed and carbonation depth in joint and cracked concrete including sound area is measured. Probability of durable failure with time is calculated through probability variables such as concrete cover depth and carbonation depth which are obtained from field survey. In addition, service life of the structures is predicted based on the intended probability of durable failure in domestic concrete specification. It is evaluated that in a RC column, various service life is predicted due to local condition and it is rapidly decreased with insufficient cover depth and growth of crack width. It is also evaluated that obtaining cover depth and quality of concrete is very important because the probability of durable failure is closely related with C.O.V. of cover depth.