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In this study, using the modified Einstein procedure, data on sediment load were systematically collected and analyzed by year, period, watershed, and main stream and tributaries in South Korean rivers. It was found that the sediment load and concentration differ significantly depending on the region, even in the same area and at the same time, especially in areas with a large minimum-maximum discharge ratio. Therefore, the application of the relationship between discharge and sediment load across all time and space needs to be precise, and data have to be selected separately according to the relational application conditions. In addition, existing sediment transport formulas were compared by applying various goodness-of-fit methods that were well suited to the measured dataset. The results showed that the optimal sediment transport formula varied according to the goodness-of-fit method. Furthermore, while the Ackers and White approach was found to be generally suitable; however, the correlation figures alone were not conclusive. Therefore, a quantitative determination must be made as to how the application of simple fitness methods affects the selection of optimal sediment transport formulas.

This study presents the current literature regarding the investigation of varnish contamination among the various types of lubricant contaminations. As the duration of use of lubricants increases, the lubricant deteriorates and may become contaminated. Varnish has been known to cause filter plugging, sticking of the hydraulic valves and fuel injection pumps, flow obstruction, clearance reduction, poor heating and cooling performance, and increased friction and wear in various lubrication systems. These problems may also result in mechanical system failures, performance degradation, and increased maintenance and repair costs. To improve the problems caused by varnish contamination, an adequate understanding of varnish is required. Therefore, in this review, the definitions and characteristics, generating machinery, generating mechanisms, causes, measurement methods, and prevention or removal methods of varnish are summarized. Most of the data presented herein are reports from manufacturers related to lubricants and machine maintenance that are included in published works. We expect that this summary will be helpful to those who are engaged in reducing or preventing varnish-related problems.

Photorhabdus spp. has a high molecular weight Tc toxin with insecticidal activity. These toxins have been suggested as an alternative to BT toxin from Bacillus thuringiensis. Herein, we constructed a cosmid library with the genome of M1021 and screened the Escherichia coli clones showing insect toxicity by injecting each clone into Galleria mellonella larvae. In a total of 1020 clones, one clone with high insecticidal activity was selected and the nucleotide sequence of the cosmid of the clone was determined. In cosmid PtC28, a gene with 87% homology to the tccB gene of Photorhabdus temperata was found. Consequently, we have isolated the tccB gene cassette from the M1021 and expressed in E. coli expression vectors. The toxin was produced in the form of inclusion bodies but the denatured and refolded recombinant TccB showed strong mortality to the G. mellonella larvae.

Numerical simulations for bed change and bank erosion were performed using a two-dimensional numerical model to analyze the effect of channel width variation on bed change for the 4.2 km section upstream of Changnyeong-Haman Weir in the Nakdong River of South Korea. Simulation result of bed degradation without bank erosion for 120 days with 1,000 m3/s of flow discharge was about 2 m greater than the case of simulation with bank erosion. The narrow channel section was continuously degraded over time in the simulation with the fixed boundary for bank lines. However, bed degradation decreased as the channel width increased when bank erosion or artificial width extension were considered in the modeling. The equilibrium condition for topographical changes in the study reach was demonstrated by the modeling results with different channel width and simulation time.

This study evaluated the applicability of existing sediment yield and transport estimation models developed using data mining classification and prediction techniques and validated them. Field surveys were conducted by using an acoustic Doppler current profiler and laser in situ scattering and transmission at measuring points in the main stream of the Nakdong River located where the tributaries of the Geumho, Hwang, and Nam Rivers join. Surveys yielded estimations of water velocity, discharge, and suspended sediment concentrations were measured. In contrast with models based on the general watershed characteristics factors, some models based on hydraulic explanatory flow variables demonstrated an excellent predictability. This is because the selected submodels for validation, which provided excellent prediction results, were based on a large number of calibration data. It indicates that a sufficient number of reliable data is required in developing a sediment yield estimation model using data mining. For practical applications of data mining to extant sediment yield estimation models, comprehensive considerations are required, including the purpose and background of model development, and data range. Furthermore, the existing models should be periodically updated with the consideration of temporal and spatial lumping problems.

Background/Aims There have been controversial reports linking Helicobacter pylori infection to autoimmune thyroid disease (AITD). However, data regarding the relationship are limited for Asian populations, which have an extremely high prevalence of H. pylori infection. We performed this study to investigate the association between H. pylori infection and AITD in Koreans. Methods This study involved adults aged 30 to 70 years who had visited a health promotion center. A total of 5,502 subjects were analysed. Thyroid status was assessed by free thyroxine, thyroid stimulating hormone, and anti-thyroid peroxidase antibody (TPO-Ab). Immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies to H. pylori were measured as an indication of H. pylori infection. We compared the prevalence of TPO-Ab in subjects with and without H. pylori infection. Results H. pylori IgG antibodies were found in 2,875 subjects (52.3%), and TPO-Ab were found in 430 (7.8%). Individuals positive for H. pylori Ab were older than those negative for H. pylori Ab (p < 0.01). The proportion of females was significantly higher in the TPO-Ab positive group (41.0% vs. 64.2%, p < 0.01). Prevalence of TPO-Ab positivity was higher in subjects with H. pylori infection (8.6% vs. 7.00%, p = 0.03), and this association was significant after adjusting for age, sex, and body mass index (odds ratio, 1.02; 95% confidence interval, 1.00 to 1.03; p = 0.04). Conclusions In our study, prevalence of TPO-Ab positivity is more frequent in subjects with H. pylori infection. Our findings suggest H. pylori infection may play a role in the development of autoimmune thyroiditis.

South Korea experiences numerous local sedimentation problems, such as landslides, upland erosion, aggradation and degradation, and flood plain sediment deposition. This has necessitated the development of a reliable and consistent approach for modeling sediment processes in the country. In this study, samples obtained from 35 gauging stations at five alluvial river basins in South Korea were used together with the modified Einstein procedure and series expansion of the modified Einstein procedure to determine the total sediment load at the sampling locations. Using two different methods, the total sediment load of majority of the 35 considered rivers were found to be typically 50–300 ton/km2·yr. A model tree data mining technique was used to develop a model for estimating the specific degradation based on certain meaningful parameters, namely, the 1) elevation at the middle relative area of the hypsometric curve [m], 2) percentage of wetland and water, 3) percentage of urban land, 4) mean annual precipitation [mm], 5) main stream length [km], and 6) watershed form factor [km2/km2]. The root mean square error of the predictions of the proposed model was found to be 55 ton/km2·yr less than those of existing statistical models. Erosion loss maps obtained by the revised universal soil loss equation (RUSLE), satellite images, and aerial photographs were also used to represent the geospatial features affecting erosion and sedimentation. The results of the geospatial analysis indicated that the transport of sediment into the alluvial rivers was affected by the wetlands located near the rivers, and also enabled clear delineation of the unique erosion features of construction sites in the urban areas. In addition, the watershed morphometric characteristics could be used to accurately represent the sediment transport. The proposed data mining methodology promises to facilitate the solution of various erosion and sedimentation problems in South Korea. The geospatial analysis procedure would also enable the understanding of spatially varied erosion and sedimentation processes under different conditions.

The effects of sedimentation reduction at the Nakdong River Estuary Barrage (NREB) in Korea were quantitatively analyzed with respect to different sediment control methods using the calibrated and validated two-dimensional model. The countermeasures of sediment dredging, sediment flushing, channel geometry change, and a combination of flushing and channel geometry change were examined for the approach channel of the NREB. The flood event and channel geometries of the 3.8 km section upstream of the NREB surveyed before and after dredging in 2007 were used for modeling conditions. As a result, the half of sediments dredged in 2007 could be eliminated naturally by floods without dredging. The numerical simulation of sediment flushing indicated that the deposition height decreased in the entire simulation section with the minimum and maximum reductions from 0.3 m to 1.3 m in deposition height. The channel contraction method produced quantitatively the largest amount of sedimentation reduction and sediment flushing and dredging followed. Sedimentation reduction by a combination of flushing and channel contraction was up 10% compared to the individual method of channel contraction.

Acute hypothyroidism induced by thyroid hormone withdrawal (THW) in patients with thyroid cancer after total thyroidectomy can affect mood and quality of life (QoL). While loss or dysregulation of thyroid hormone (TH) has these well-known behavioral consequences, the effects of TH alterations on brain function are not well understood. Resting state functional connectivity (FC) measured by functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) allows non-invasive evaluation of human brain function. This study therefore examined whether THW affects resting state FC and whether changes in FC correlate with the mood or QoL of the patients with THW status.Twenty-one patients who had undergone total thyroidectomy for thyroid cancer were recruited. Resting state fMRI scanning of the brain, thyroid function tests, and administration of the 12-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-12) and the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) were performed before and after two weeks of THW. Regional homogeneity (ReHo), one of the measures of resting state FC, was calculated, and each voxel was compared between before and after THW in 19 patients. The ReHo values were extracted from the regions of interest showing within-group differences in ReHo values after THW, and correlations of ReHo values with thyrotropin (TSH) levels, total score of the PHQ-9, and composite scores of the SF-12 were statistically evaluated.Higher ReHo was observed after THW in the brain cortical regions across primary motor and sensory, visual, and association cortices. Among the regions, the ReHo values in the bilateral pre- and postcentral gyri, bilateral middle occipito-temporal cortices, the left precuneus, and the left lingual gyrus showed positive correlations with serum TSH levels after THW. Higher ReHo values in the bilateral pre- and postcentral gyri, the left middle temporo-occipital cortices, and the left ligual gyrus correlated with the lower mental component summary score from the SF-12, while higher ReHo values in the bilateral pre- and postcentral gyri correlated with higher total scores in the PHQ-9.Local brain FC is increased in the acute hypothyroid state. Higher FC correlates with a poorer mental QoL and increased depression in the hypothyroid state.

A repeat fine needle aspiration (FNA) is recommended for thyroid nodules diagnosed as atypia of undetermined significance (AUS) in a previous cytology. We evaluated the utility of NRAS codon 61 (NRAS61) mutation analysis and core needle biopsy (CNB) for the diagnosis of thyroid nodules previously diagnosed as AUS. This study enrolled 236 patients who underwent both NRAS61 mutation analysis and CNB of thyroid nodules previously diagnosed as AUS at cytology. The NRAS61 mutation was detected in 36 nodules and was more frequently detected in the AUS and follicular neoplasm (FN)/suspicious for follicular neoplasm (SFN) categories, as determined by histological analysis of CNB, than in the benign group (p = 0.005). Sixty-one patients underwent surgery, and 29 nodules were finally diagnosed as malignant after surgery. Among 61 patients who underwent surgery, nodules with the NRAS61 mutation (42-65 %) had a significantly higher malignancy rate than nodules with wild-type NRAS61 (7-37 %, p = 0.038). The association between malignancy and the NRAS61 mutation was significant after adjusting for age, sex, nodule size, and histological diagnosis of CNB (p = 0.01). NRAS61 mutation analysis together with CNB could be helpful for arriving at a clinical decision in patients with thyroid nodules showing AUS in a previous cytology.

Bed changes in the Nakdong River were analyzed with long-term monitoring data for analyzing riverbed change patterns after Four Major Rivers Restoration Project (FMRRP). Also, possible long-term bed changes were predicted using one-dimensional numerical model for the section where the largest change was observed after FMRRP. The sensitive analysis was performed with different incoming sediment discharge conditions and sediment transport equations. The numerical model was calibrated by comparing short-term monitoring data and simulated results, and was applied for predicting bed change after 10 years. As a result of monitoring data analysis, the largest change in bed elevation occurred at the section between the Changnyeong-Haman and Hapcheon-Changnyeong weirs. The result of one-dimensional numerical modeling for 10 years indicated that maximum depositions of 2.07 m and 3.26 m were produced in this section.

Eco-innovation globally emerged as an effort to implement sustainable development. States and firms established and implemented policies and strategies for eco-innovation as one route to achieving sustai nable development. Eco-innovation has been facilitated in developed countries, specifically OECD members and European countries, through action plans. Recently, eco-innovation policies have emerged in developing countries. Thus, this study analyzes eco-innovation policies in Asian countries. Policies related to eco-innovation in 17 Asian countries were investigated using policy instrument categories. National policies for eco-innovation were interpreted and compared with development stage classifications. The results indicate that there are similar and different policy approaches to eco-innovation in Asian countries. Given the balance between a technology push (supply side) and a market pull (demand side) in policy instruments for eco-innovation, 17 countries were identified by four categories: leaders, followers, loungers, and laggards. The results provide insight for designing nationa l strategies for eco-innovation in Asia’s developing countries. Therefore, this research contributes to facilitating and diffusing eco-innovation toward sustainability in Asia.

A program for stable channel design was developed to perform the sensitivity analysis for stable conditions with various sediment transport equations. It provides a useful solution considering design constraints such as a fixed width and depth as well as various solutions for stable channel condition with a wide range. This program applied to the section of the abandoned channel restoration in the Cheongmi Stream, a tributary of Han River in Korea. The predicted slopes with sediment transport equations were steeper than the current channel slope. Overall, the current section has deeper depth and milder bed slope compared to the stable channel prediction results. This could be represented in relation to the formation of sandbars around the study reach in the Cheongmi Stream. Regarding the application to the Cheongmi Stream with the fixed base width, Yang’s equation produced the steepest slope and the shallowest depth. In the case of the application with the fixed depth, the base width predicted by Yang’s equation was the narrowest. For all sediment transport equations, the predicted base width was narrower than the current section.

The BRAF(V600E) mutation is a promising prognostic biomarker for patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC), but its prevalence differs widely among different geographic regions. A recent study reported that loss of the Cleavage and Polyadenylation Specificity Factor Subunit 2 (CPSF2) gene was associated with increased cellular invasion, cancer stem cells, and aggressiveness of PTC. This study aimed at evaluating CPSF2 protein expression as a prognostic marker for PTC in a region with a high prevalence of the BRAF(V600E) mutation, Korea.This study included 159 patients with classical PTC who underwent a total thyroidectomy and received ablative doses of (131)I. The expression of CPSF2 protein was evaluated by immunohistochemistry and graded semi-quantitatively. The presence of the BRAF(V600E) mutation was evaluated by direct sequencing.Negative protein expression of CPSF2 was observed in 34 (21.3%) of the 159 PTCs. In multivariate analysis, negative CPSF2 expression was significantly associated with cervical lymph node metastasis (odds ratio [OR]=2.56, p=0.28), and distant metastasis (OR=3.48, p=0.02). After adjusting for age, sex, tumor size, extrathyroidal invasion, lymphovascular invasion, and the BRAF(V600E) mutation, the CPSF2-negative group had a significantly lower recurrence-free survival compared to the CPSF2-positive group (hazard ratio=2.14, p=0.03).Negative protein expression of CPSF2 is independently associated with a poor clinical outcome in PTC. CPSF2 could be a useful prognostic marker for PTC in regions with a high prevalence of the BRAF(V600E) mutation.

This study explored at marital conflict in multicultural families, a type of families formed through international marriages,from husbands perspectives. For the purpose of this study, in-depth interviews were used with husbands in multiculturalfamilies to ask about marital conflict, and then, conducted a qualitative case analysis. In summary, results of this studyare as follows; First, among the decisive events that husbands in multicultural families often experienced in marital conflictwith their wives were disrespect toward husbands and parents-in-law, husbands with a low level of trust, feelings of pressure due to financial support for wives’ families and children and lack of practical sense about marriage. Second,development of marital conflict that husbands often experienced included aggravated cultural conflict between a coupleand between members of the family, difficulty in managing blame and anger, signs of separation or divorce and wives leaving home and limitations in conversation and communication. Third, as to how husbands tried to deal with maritalconflict, they tried to be patient and comfort wives, engage in economic activities together, find something that theycould focus on, turn to religion or gatherings, use service from government organizations, have trust and develop rules and limit the range of their wives activities.

Stable channel design is to determine the width, depth and slope for satisfying the condition that the upstream incoming sediment rate is equal to the sediment transport rate at the design channel. Therefore, the most sensitive variable when designing a stable channel is the selection of a sediment transport equation applied for the channel design. Especially if in the case of gravel beds the designer uses the equation developed by using the dataof sand rivers, the calculation result of the stable channel section has large errors. In this study, the stable channeldesign has been applied to the gravel bed river using the previous stable channel design program with newly added the sediment transport equation for gravel beds; and the stable channel section considering design constraints has beenproduced by using the analytical method.As results, in the case of the application with the fixed width, the depth predicted by Ackers and White’s equationwas the shallowest and Meyer-Peter and Muller’s equation was 0.8 m deeper than the current section of 2.4 m. Inthe case of the application with the fixed depth, the width predicted by Engelund and Hansen’s equation was twice wider than the current section and by Meyer-Peter and Muller’s equation was 20 m wider than the current sectionof 44 m.

Measurement of thyroglobulin (Tg) in the washout fluid of fine-needle aspirates (FNA-Tg) is useful for diagnosis of lymph node (LN) metastasis in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). However, the cutoff value of FNA-Tg in the preoperative state is not defined clearly. This study aimed to evaluate the optimal cutoff value of preoperative FNA-Tg according to serum Tg level.FNA-Tg was measured in 135 PTC patients (160 LNs) for preoperative diagnosis of cervical LN metastasis.Of the 160 LNs, 119 (74%) were surgically removed and 110 (69%) were diagnosed as malignant. When we adopted a FNA-Tg of 1.0 μg/L as the cutoff value, the sensitivity and specificity were 99% and 76%, respectively. FNA-Tg levels were correlated with serum Tg levels (Pearson's coefficient 0.42, p=0.002) and the FNA-Tg levels of 12 of the 50 benign LNs were above 1.0 μg/L. We classified the LNs into two groups according to serum Tg level regardless of anti-Tg antibody status: a low Tg group (≤1.0 μg/L, n=22, 14%) and a high Tg group (1.0 μg/L, n=138, 86%). In the low Tg group, the sensitivity and specificity of the FNA-Tg cutoff value of 1.0 μg/L were 93% and 100%, respectively. In the high Tg group, the sensitivity and specificity of the FNA-Tg cutoff value of 19.0 μg/L were 93% and 100%, respectively. A Tg ratio (FNA-Tg level divided by serum Tg level) of 0.5 gave an improved diagnostic performance (sensitivity, 98%; specificity, 98%) in the high Tg group.FNA-Tg levels in the preoperative state are affected by serum Tg levels when they exceeded 1.0 μg/L. For the preoperative diagnosis of metastatic cervical LNs, it seems reasonable to employ different cutoff values of FNA-Tg depending on serum Tg levels. We propose the use of an optimal cutoff value of FNA-Tg of 1.0 μg/L in patients with low serum Tg levels and a Tg ratio of 0.5 in those with high serum Tg levels irrespective of thyroglobulin antibody status.

The headcut erosion at the confluence section of a mainstream and tributary can migrate up the tributary streams, and rapid degradation can threaten the stability of hydraulic structures installed in the channel. Therefore, quantitative analysis for the development and mechanism of headcut erosion is needed to prevent damage due to the headcut. In this study, hydraulic experiments for headcut erosion in the channel with noncohesive materials were performed and the knickpoint movement and final bed slope change were analyzed based on the different hydraulic conditions. As a result, the knickpoint movement was 1.5 times faster when the difference in velocity between the upstream and downstream sections was 2.5 times greater and the central part of the cross-section was eroded and collapsed earlier than the left and right sides. The movement length of headcut erosion was longer and the final bed slope was milder as the velocity difference between the upstream and downstream sections was increased. This study showed that a correlation between the knickpoint movement and bed slope change by headcut erosion and the water level difference of upstream and downstream sections was not constant compared to the velocity difference.

Type 2 diabetes is known to increase the risk and progression of certain types of cancer. Metformin treatment of diabetic patients is reported to have beneficial effects on some cancers. We evaluated the clinical outcome of diabetic patients with differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) according to metformin treatment.We reviewed 943 patients diagnosed with DTC after total thyroidectomy between 1995 and 2005 in a tertiary hospital. The study involved 60 diabetic patients and 210 control patients matched for age, sex, body mass index (BMI), and tumor size.There were no differences in the clinicopathological features and disease-free survival (DFS) between diabetic patients and the control group over 8.9 years of follow-up. Of the diabetic patients with DTC, 35 patients (58%) were treated with metformin. There were no differences in age, sex, BMI, tumor size, antidiabetic medication, glycated hemoglobin, or C-peptide levels in metformin and nonmetformin groups. However, cervical lymph node (LN) metastasis was more prevalent in the metformin group than in the nonmetformin group (OR 3.52, p = 0.035). Among diabetic patients with cervical LN metastasis of DTC, the metformin subgroup (17.1 years) was associated with longer DFS than the nonmetformin subgroup (8.6 years) (HR 0.16, p = 0.021); metformin treatment was also associated with longer DFS in this subgroup in multivariate analysis after adjusting age, BMI, duration of diabetes, presence of tumor at resection margin, and serum thyroglobulin level at ablation (HR 0.03, p = 0.035).Metformin treatment is associated with low recurrence in diabetic patients with cervical LN metastasis of DTC.

OBJECTIVE The follicular variant of papillary thyroid carcinoma (FVPTC) has multiple histological subtypes. Clinical outcomes of FVPTC are variable depending on the subtypes. This study evaluated the association of pre-operative ultrasonographic (US) findings and clinico-pathological features of FVPTC. PATIENTS This retrospective study enrolled patients with FVPTC (n = 70), size-matched classical variant of papillary thyroid carcinoma (CPTC, n = 328), follicular carcinoma (n = 85) and follicular adenoma (FA, n = 120). We defined the histological subtypes of FVPTC as infiltrative (I-FVPTC; n = 19) or encapsulated (E-FVPTC; n = 51) according to the presence of a fibrous capsule. Pre-operative US was reviewed using a US scoring system and classified into low US score (n = 42) and high US score (n = 28). RESULTS The median US score for FVPTC was lower than CPTC (2 vs 7, P < 0·001), but higher than FA (2 vs 0, P < 0·001). The median US score for I-FVPTC was significantly higher than E-FVPTC (4 vs 2, P = 0·009). I-FVPTC was more likely to be diagnosed as a malignancy or suspicious for malignancy on cytology than E-FVPTC (P = 0·002). The cumulative risks of cervical lymph node (LN) or distant metastasis according to tumour size were significantly higher in I-FVPTC than E-FVPTC (all P < 0·001). The cumulative risks for cervical LN metastasis or capsular invasion according to tumour size were significantly higher in FVPTC with high US score than FVPTC with low US score (P = 0·005, P < 0·001, respectively). CONCLUSIONS Pre-operative US findings of thyroid nodules were associated with not only histological subtypes, but also the clinical behaviour in FVPTC.

SummaryObjective Serum calcitonin (CT) level is used to detect medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC), but the cut-off level is unclear. We aimed at identifying the optimal cut-off value of basal serum CT levels for detecting MTC. Design and patients We retrospectively enrolled patients with hypercalcitoninemia (≥2·9 pmol/l) who had undergone thyroid ultrasonography (US) and subsequent work-up between 2001 and 2013 at Asan Medical Center. We divided patients into four groups: proven MTC (group 1, n = 93), pathologically proven non-MTC after surgery (group 2, n = 57), benign single nodule by cytology (group 3, n = 68) and patients without nodules on US (group 4, n = 24). Measurement Basal serum CT levels were evaluated. Results The median CT level of group 1 (119·5 pmol/l) was significantly higher than those of other groups (4·0, 3·8 and 3·8 pmol/l, P

Sediment discharge by long-term runoff in the Nakdong River watershed should be predicted for the maintenance and management of the Nakdong River newly changed by the four major river restoration project. The data establishment by the analysis of runoff and sediment discharge using the long-term watershed model is necessary to predict possible problems by incoming sediments and to prepare countermeasures for the maintenance and management. Therefore, sediment discharges by long-term runoff in the main points of the Nakdong River were calculated using SWAT(soil and water assessment tool) model and the relations and features between rainfall, runoff, and sediment discharge were analyzed in this study. As a result of sediment discharge calculation in the main points of the Nakdong River and tributaries, the sediment discharge at the outlet of the Naesung Stream was greater than the Jindong Station in the Lower Nakdong River from 1999 to 2008 except the years with low precipitation. The sediment discharge at the Nakdong River Estuary Barrage (NREB) was corresponding to 20% of the Jindong Station which is located about 80 km upstream from NREB.

Low serum vitamin D levels have been associated with several autoimmune diseases, but their association with thyroid autoimmunity is unclear. We evaluated the association of serum vitamin D levels with the prevalence of autoimmune thyroid disease (AITD).Our cross-sectional study included subjects who underwent routine health checkups, which included assays of serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D3 [25(OH)D3] and anti-thyroid peroxidase antibody (TPO-Ab), as well as thyroid ultrasonography (US) between 2008 and 2012 at the Asan Medical Center. We defined AITD according to the levels of TPO-Ab and US findings.A total of 6685 subjects (58% male; 42% female) were enrolled for this study. Overall prevalence of TPO-Ab positivity and both TPO-Ab/US positivity were 10.1% (6.3% male; 15.3% female) and 5.4% (2.3% male; 9.7% female) respectively. In female subjects, mean serum 25(OH)D3 levels were significantly lower in the TPO-Ab(+) (22.0 vs. 23.5 ng/mL, p=0.030) and TPO-Ab(+)/US(+) groups (21.6 vs. 23.4 ng/mL, p=0.027) compared with the control group, respectively. According to the levels of serum 25(OH)D3, the prevalence of TPO-Ab positivity (21.2%, 15.5%, and 12.6% in deficient, insufficient, and sufficient group, respectively; p=0.001) and both TPO-Ab and US positivity (14.7%, 9.9%, and 7.1% in deficient, insufficient, and sufficient group, respectively; p0.001) decreased in female subjects. Interestingly, this pattern was significant only in pre-menopausal women (p=0.003 and p0.001; respectively), but not in postmenopausal women. Multivariate analysis indicated that the adjusted odds ratios (OR) for AITD among those in the 25(OH)D3-deficient [TPO-Ab(+): OR 1.95, p=0.001; TPO-Ab(+)/US(+): OR 2.36, p0.001] and -insufficient groups [TPO-Ab(+): OR 1.31, p=0.043; TPO-Ab(+)/US(+): OR 1.50, p=0.017] were significantly increased when compared with the sufficient group.The levels of serum vitamin D were significantly lower in pre-menopausal women with AITD. Vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency were significantly associated with AITD in pre-menopausal women.

A water pipeline buried under the riverbed could be exposed by bed erosion, therefore safe crossing sections should be analyzed for preventing damages due to the exposure of pipelines. In this study, flow and bed changes have been simulated using a two-dimensional numerical model for selecting the optimized section of pipeline crossing in the Geum River. As a result of simulation with the 20-year recurrence flood, sediment deposition has been distributed overall in the channel and bed erosion over 2 m has occurred near bridge piers. For the extreme flood simulation, the channel bed near the bridge piers has been eroded down to the buried depth. Therefore, within 140 m upstream of the bridge piers, bed erosion affects a buried pipeline in safety due to bridge pier effects and the crossing section over 150 m upstream of bridge piers is selected as a safe zone of a water pipeline.Key Words : Bed Change, CCHE2D, Numerical Analysis, Pipeline Crossing, River Crossing Structure W?A@ A: E£'%CW? DÐW?AE ]£ (12 i ‹ ´ C02) LÐs ‡{AEG ¯pz .

Highly efficient titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2 Nps) catalyzed, C–C bond formation under microwave irradiation and solventless conditions provided highly functionalized quinolines and quinolinones in excellent yields.

Sediment from the upstream channel has been deposited near the Nakdong River Estuary Barrage (NREB) due to the mild slope and decreased velocity. The annual mechanical dredging to ensure the flood capacity has been performed to remove the deposited sediment. However, the dredging method is not considered as an effective countermeasure due to high cost and long time to operate. Therefore, many methods for sedimentation reduction have been proposed for NREB. Especially, the channel contraction method to mitigate sedimentation problem by changing the channel geometry from 2 km to 3 km upstream of NREB has been recently suggested as an effective countermeasure. However, there is the possibility that the channel contraction method induces flood level increase compared to original condition. Therefore, it is necessary to investigate quantitatively the flood level changes in the upstream and downstream section due to the channel contraction method for NREB. In this study, water level changes by 10% channel contraction of whole width has been evaluated using the HEC-RAS model and simulated with and without channel contraction for various flood discharge. As a result, water level in the section where the channel was contracted was decreased by 0.02 m and flood level at the upstream of channel contracted was increased up to 0.015 m for the 500-year flood.

Thyroid cancers arising from a thyroglossal duct cyst (TGDC) are rarely reported. No clear consensus exists regarding optimal management. In this light, TGDC carcinomas recently treated at Asan Medical Center, as well as previously reported cases in the literature, were reviewed. There were ten patients who were diagnosed with TGDC carcinoma at our institution. All patients underwent pre-operative fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB). Nine patients were suspected of having papillary carcinoma following cytology. The Sistrunk operation (SO) was performed in four patients, SO with total thyroidectomy (SO/TT) was performed in three patients, and SO/TT with neck dissection was performed in three patients. Six patients who received total thyroidectomy underwent radioactive iodine (RAI) therapy and T4 suppression. With a median follow-up period of 28.5 months, two patients showed recurrence and one of them died of the disease. We analyzed 163 cases from 1990 to 2012 with three or more cases TGDC carcinoma, including the present study. Among 48 patients who underwent FNAB, 75% had papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). SO, SO/TT, or SO/TT with neck dissection was performed in 27%, 41%, and 32% of patients, respectively. Among 119 patients who received total thyroidectomy, 36% had concomitant PTC in the thyroid. Among 52 patients who received neck dissection, 69% had cervical nodal involvement. The results of our review suggest that when TGDC carcinoma is suspected, ultrasonography and, if necessary, FNAB should be performed. If these tests reveal a suspected lesion in the thyroid or lymph node, SO/TT and lymph node dissection should be performed.

Anaplastic thyroid carcinoma (ATC), the most aggressive type of thyroid cancer, has no effective therapy. Due to its dismal prognosis, it is vital to understand the genetic alterations of ATC and identify effective molecular targets. Targeted next-generation sequencing was performed to investigate the mutational profile of ATC using a massive parallel sequencing approach.DNA from formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded archival samples of 11 ATCs and normal matched pairs were used. A total of 48 genetic alterations were identified by targeted exome sequencing. These alterations were validated by mass spectrometric genotyping and direct Sanger sequencing.The most commonly mutated gene was BRAF, identified in 10 samples (91%), all showing the V600E point mutation. A KRAS point mutation was observed in the one sample (9%) without the BRAF(V600E) mutation. All 11 ATCs harbored BRAF or RAS mutations, reflecting the possibility that differentiated thyroid carcinomas progress to ATCs after the accumulation of mutations. A loss of function mutation of TP53 was observed in eight samples (73%), a PIK3CA mutation was observed in two samples (18%), and a frameshift mutation of PTEN was observed in one sample (9%). Twenty-eight novel mutated genes were found that had not previously been associated with ATC. Of these, loss of function mutations of NF2, KMT2D, and PKHD1 were repeatedly seen in three samples (27%), two samples (18%), and two samples (18%), respectively. Using direct Sanger sequencing, two samples (18%) were also found with a RASAL1 mutation. KMT2D and RASAL1 mutations were significantly associated with shorter ATC patient survival.This comprehensive analysis of ATCs using targeted massive parallel sequencing identified several novel mutations in ATCs, such as loss of function mutations of NF2 or KMT2D. Future studies are needed to confirm the role of these novel mutations as independent drivers of ATC development.

TiO2 nanotube arrays (TiO2 NTs) were fabricated in a H3PO4/NaOH/NH4F electrolyte by using the anodic oxidation method. X-ray powder diffractometry and scanning electron microscopy with an energy dispersive X-ray analyzer were used to characterize the morphology of the TiO2 NTs. The average pore diameter, the wall thickness and the length of TiO2 NTs were found to be 100 nm, 10 nm, and 640 nm, respectively, and anatase, which is one of the TiO2 crystalline phases, was obtained after annealing at 500 °C for 2 h. Secondary ion mass spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy were used to investigate the surface atom ratio and the depth profile of TiO2 NTs. By optimizing the anodic oxidation conditions, we could reproducibly prepare TiO2 NTs with tunable structures.

In order to develop eco-friendly biopesticide, an entomopathogenic bacterium Photorhabdus temperata M1021 has been lyophilized via freeze-drying along with protective agents such as skim milk, starch, sodium alginate, glucose and sodium glutamate to protect cells from lysis. Freeze-drying powder of P. temperata M1021 containing 7% skim milk (w/v) showed highest survival rate of 63% among all the protective agents used in trials. Furthermore, the freeze-dried microbial powder showed 75% of survival rate after stored at 4 o C for 4 weeks at air contact conditions. Injection toxicity of the freeze-dried sample was tested against larvae of Galleria mellonella. A dose of 2.0×10 1 cells of P. temperata M1021 killed 100% of the G. mellonella larvae within 4 days after injection. Moreover, 2.0×10 0 cells caused 50% mortality within the 4 days after injection. Freeze-dried P. temperata M1021 strains exhibited effective insecticidal activity and could be a better candidate for being used as a biopesticide.

The purpose of this study is to analyze the student`s modeling patterns of modeling experiments. The 1st year students who were taking the general chemistry laboratory course performed three modeling inquiry experiments and submitted laboratory reports. Students expressed the model in a formula form and/or a written form. Student`s modeling patterns could be classified by five types; `Refining tentative modeling`, `Accepting alternative modeling`, `Discarding tentative modeling`, `Failing to find causes`, `Disbelieving results`. This modeling experiment provides for students the opportunity for understanding how a scientific model is created and what the nature of scientific modeling is.

Entomopathogenic nematodes symbiotically associated with Photorhabdus spp. invade the larvae of susceptible insects and Photorhabdus bacteria are released into the insect hemolymph, which produce toxins and kill the insect larvae. In this study, five symbiotic bacteria isolates from soil nematodes, Heterorhabditis spp., have been reported. The bacteria were screened for insecticidal toxicity against larvae of Galleria mellonella. All were identified as different strains of Photorhabdus temperata via 16 s rDNA sequencing. The insecticidal activity was highest after 3–4 days of pure culture and the level of toxicity was higher in culture supernatant than in the cell pellet. The heat stability of the insecticidal activity was tested by heat treatments for 30 min at the range of 25°C to 100°C. Out of all isolated strains, P. temperata strains J4 and J5 produced heat-stable toxins. The supernatants extracted from the culture of these strains preserved up to 95% of insecticidal activity after heat treatment for 30 min at 80°C. The insecticidal activities of culture supernatants of all the selected strains were mostly maintained after proteinase K treatment. Based upon these findings, it can be inferred that the insecticidal toxins produced by Photorhabdus spp. were not pure protein substances.

The oral toxicity of 5 Photorhabdus spp. strains collected in different regions of Korea was determined in the larvae of Plodia interpunctella, Galleria mellonella, Lucilia caesar, and Culex pipiens pallens. When diet or water containing culture media containing 1 of the 5 different strains was ingested by immature insects, the first instar larvae of both G. mellonella and L. caesar and young larvae of C. pipiens pallens died within 3–5 days after treatment. However, mortality of P. interpunctella neonate larvae was slightly slower and reached 94.4%–100% within 7 days after treatment. The mortality rate of a control group given a diet containing water, the medium without cultured bacteria, or Escherichia coli culture medium was not affected. The mortality rates were 100%, 45.3%, 2.8%, and 0% for Galleria, Lucilia, Plodia, and Culex, respectively, in another control group given a culture medium of Photorhabdus luminescens ssp. laumondii (TT01). In addition, culture media containing Photorhabdus strains significantly inhibited molting of third instar Plodia larvae by as much as 88% 7 days after treatment, whereas molting inhibition was reduced by 0%, 4%, and 20% following treatments with water, E. coli, or TT01 culture media, respectively. Our results suggest that the oral administration of Photorhabdus bacterial medium was highly effective for controlling various immature insects.

This thesis in the social welfare-related institutions in the Seoul area, art therapy and the therapist based on the status of welfare-related agencies in the community of art therapy is to present possibilities and challenges. Research results presented by Health and Welfare, where seven of the 14 kinds of social welfare facilities, participate in the survey and the target organ, 45.1% of art therapy`s role in social welfare-related institutions and gradually establish the location was the result. Art therapy is to conduct the current difficulties in institutions about the environmental factors related to a professional therapist and art therapist in the therapist`s expansion as a major research and maintenance was network. Welfare-related agencies and community relationships we maintain mutual relationship, and are formed within the community have an effect on consciousness and collectivization. To provide the opportunity which realize the value in the art therapy by applying more to expand the variety of professional method. First, secure the facility of art therapy environment and the therapists. Second, if the art therapy association secures the integrated system, it makes a connection with professional therapists to improve recruitment environment in the art therapy community and therapists need to be addressed by all involved is a challenge. Third, a therapist for the duration of training in order to access a variety of academic and clinical research is the importance of the process of learning the training and supervision is to discuss the issue.

The production of dextran was optimized by a novel Leuconostoc citreum, which was isolated from Korean traditional fermented vegetable, Dongchimi. This strain was identified as Leuconostoc citreum S5 by a physiological analysis, API-kit analysis, 16-rDNA sequencing and RAPD-PCR. The type and production of dextrans were greatly affected by the sucrose concentration, food ingredients and fermentation time. In particular, the addition of skim milk and potato powder greatly increased the consistency of the culture broth after fermentation for 12 h at 30 °C, resulting in the maximum values after 72 h. The culture broth with the highest consistency, was obtained from the defined medium containing 20% sucrose, 1.5% skim milk and 0.5% potato powder, and it showed typical pseudoplastic behavior with a pH of 4.07, 1.12% titratable acidity, 472.5 Pa of the elasticity modulus (G′) and 85.0 Pa of viscosity modulus (G″). In addition, total dextran is composed of soluble dextran (33.2 g/L) and insoluble dextran (29.8 g/L). The conversion yield of sucrose was decreased by an increase, in the sucrose concentration in a defined medium, remaining sucrose and some of glucose and fructose. High-molecular weight dextran (2,000 kDa), as a minor fraction, was produced by increasing the sucrose. With the addition of food ingredients such as skim milk and potato powder, however, the conversion of sucrose is complete, showing only some fructose as a by-product. Low-molecular weight dextran (1,100 kDa) was only produced regardless of sucrose concentration.

Various surface modifications have been applied to improve the adhesion properties of aluminum for the cap plate and sealing quality of electrolyte on Li ion batteries. In this study, we have tried to find the effective condition for the polymerization of triazine thiols (TT) on modified aluminum surfaces by anodic aluminum oxide. Characterization of polymerized films on aluminum was explored by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and secondary ion mass spectroscopy analysis. Scanning electron microscopy results reveal that meaningful roughness was formed on aluminum surfaces by anodic oxidation. Secondary ion mass spectroscopy analysis results represent that the peel strength was found to depend on film thickness and the composition of the adhesion layer. As a result, Al/PPS (polyphenylene sulfide) resin assemblies developed in this study have superior adhesive property. Therefore, these assemblies might be a viable candidate for a sealing technique for Li ion batteries.

BACKGROUND/AIMS Previous studies have suggested that elevated serum vitamin D levels might protect against thyroid cancer. Elevated serum thyroid stimulating hormone levels and autoimmune thyroid disease (AITD) are suggested to be thyroid cancer promoting factors but have not been well controlled in previous studies. We designed the present study to evaluate whether serum vitamin D levels are associated with thyroid cancer in euthyroid patients with no clinical evidence of AITD. METHODS This cross-sectional study included subjects who underwent routine health check-ups, including serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D3 (25(OH)D3) levels, anti-thyroid peroxidase antibody (TPO-Ab), and thyroid ultrasonography (US). Inclusion criteria were euthyroid, negative TPO-Ab, and no evidence of AITD by US findings. Thyroid cancer diagnoses were based on fine needle aspiration cytology and/or postsurgical histopathological findings. RESULTS We enrolled 5,186 subjects (64% male, 37% female) in this study, including 53 patients (1%) with a diagnosis of thyroid cancer (33 males, 20 females). Mean 25(OH)D3 levels were similar between the thyroid cancer and control groups (p = 0.20). Subgroup analysis according to sex or seasonal variation also revealed no differences in 25(OH)D3 levels between the two groups. Based on the levels of 25(OH)D3, there was no significant difference in the prevalence of thyroid cancer; the prevalence was 0.71%, 0.94%, 1.40%, and 0.82% in the deficient, insufficient, sufficient, and excess groups, respectively (p = 0.64). CONCLUSIONS The levels of serum 25(OH)D3 are not associated with thyroid cancer prevalence in euthyroid subjects with no clinical evidence of AITD.

In the global society eco-innovation emerged as an effort to implement sustainable development as outlined during the 2012 RIO+20 conference. States and firms have established and implemented policies and strategies for eco-innovation as one route to sustainable development. Eco-innovation has been facilitated in developed countries, especially OECD members and European countries through action plans. Recently eco-innovation policies are emerging in the developing countries. Based on this context, this research aims to analyze eco-innovation policies in Asian countries. We investigated policies related to sustainable development in 17 Asian countries with the categories of policy instruments. National policies were interpreted and compared with the classification of development stages according to the World Economic Forum (WEF). As a result this research indicates different approaches to eco-innovation in Asian countries. It offers insights to designing national strategies for eco-innovation in Asia's developing countries. Therefore this research can contribute to facilitating and diffusing eco-innovation toward sustainability in Asia.

BACKGROUND/AIMS The diagnostic accuracy of thyroid dysfunctions is primarily affected by the validity of the reference interval for serum thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH). Thus, the present study aimed to establish a reference interval for TSH using a normal Korean population. METHODS This study included 19,465 subjects who were recruited after undergoing routine health check-ups. Subjects with overt thyroid disease, a prior history of thyroid disease, or a family history of thyroid cancer were excluded from the present analyses. The reference range for serum TSH was evaluated in a normal Korean reference population which was defined according to criteria based on the guidelines of the National Academy of Clinical Biochemistry, ultrasound (US) findings, and smoking status. Sex and age were also taken into consideration when evaluating the distribution of serum TSH levels in different groups. RESULTS In the presence of positive anti-thyroid peroxidase antibodies or abnormal US findings, the central 95 percentile interval of the serum TSH levels was widened. Additionally, the distribution of serum TSH levels shifted toward lower values in the current smokers group. The reference interval for TSH obtained using a normal Korean reference population was 0.73 to 7.06 mIU/L. The serum TSH levels were higher in females than in males in all groups, and there were no age-dependent shifts. CONCLUSIONS The present findings demonstrate that the serum TSH reference interval in a normal Korean reference population was higher than that in other countries. This result suggests that the upper and lower limits of the TSH reference interval, which was previously defined by studies from Western countries, should be raised for Korean populations.