Won Buddhism in America: Exploring Ways to Balance Tradition and Innovation

Grace J. SONG DAOS(The Daesoon Academy of Sciences) 2024 Journal of Daesoon Thought and the Religions of Ea Vol.3 No.2

The introduction of Won Buddhism to the United States has reached its fifty-year mark. Brought to the West by Korean kyomus (Won Buddhist clergy), these initial Won Buddhist clergy set a foundation for future ordained devotees to reside in America and further the religion’s mission. Innovation has always played an important role in the formation and growth of Won Buddhism. The founder, Sotaesan, declared the necessity to reform traditional Buddhism to make it accessible to the laity and espoused values such as inclusiveness, equality, public work, and practicality. Over the past few decades, these innovations have helped Won Buddhism in America to shift from a strictly ethnic-related context to an emphasis on its universal nature. However, as the religion continues achieving a foothold in Western soil, critical questions arise such as how can Won Buddhism honor its Korean origins while becoming increasingly international? What are the detriments to decontextualizing and de-emphasizing elements thought to be “too Korean” or “too traditional,” or thought to be irrelevant in the West? When Buddhism spreads to a new country, it not only influences the culture it enters but is also shaped by the adopting culture. In American history, this has often meant the erasure of Asian cultures that were home to Buddhism for millennia and from which the dharma is inextricable. I argue in this article that if Won Buddhism is to thrive in the United States conscious consideration will have to be given to the indispensable aspects of its Korean roots and tradition while connecting with the current circumstance in fresh, relevant, and effective ways that include the multi-cultural and ethnic makeup of the US. This entails understanding American history and Asian Buddhism's history in America, as well as cultivating a competency or fluency in the cultures that allowed Won Buddhism to survive for decades.

Interstitial Lung Abnormality Evaluated by Automated Quantification System: Prevalence and Progression Rate

( Ju Hyun Oh ),( Grace Hyun J. Kim ),( Jonathan G Goldin ),( Jooae Choe ),( Jin Woo Song ) 대한결핵 및 호흡기학회 2021 대한결핵 및 호흡기학회 추계학술대회 초록집 Vol.129 No.-

Background Interstitial lung abnormality (ILA) refers to incidental findings of parenchymal abnormalities suggestive of early interstitial lung disease (ILD) affecting >5% of lungs on CT scan. We aimed to determine the prevalence and progression rate of ILA evaluated by automated quantification system (AQS). Methods A total of 2890 subjects (mean age: 49 years, male: 79.4%), who participated in a health screening program, and had serial chest CT images (median interval: 6.5 years), were included. The quantitative lung fibrosis (QLF) and quantitative ILD (QILD, sum of QLF, honeycombing and ground glass opacity) were measured by AQS. ILA was defined as QILD ≥5 and QLF ≥3, and progression as an increase in QLF changes compared to baseline CT images. Results In the baseline scan, ILA was identified in 251 participants (8.6%). Those with ILA showed older age, higher body mass index (BMI), and low-density lipoprotein level than those without. The prevalence of ILA increased from 2.9% to 19.2% with age (Figure 1a). During follow-up, 21.1% (53/251) of participants initially identified with ILA progressed, while improvement or no change was noted in 78.9%. ILA was identified in 13.4% (387/2890) in follow-up CT images. Those who newly developed ILA were 11% (290/2639) of those who didn’t have ILA on initial CT images. Older age (HR: 1.026, 95% CI: 1.011-1.041) and higher BMI (HR: 1.056, 95%CI: 1.008-1.107) were independent risk factors for ILA development. When comparing the degree of QLF increase, the ILA group on the initial CT images showed a larger increase than the no-ILA group (Figure 1b). Conclusions ILA was not uncommon in the Korean population, with an increased prevalence in the group of subjects followed for 6.5-years. Progression was noted in 21.1% of the initially identified ILA cohort. Older age and higher BMI were risk factors for ILA development.

Imaging Signatures in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IS-IPF) Study from Multi-center Multidisciplinary Experiences in Interstitial Lung Disease

( Ju Hyun Oh ),( Grace Hyun J. Kim ),( David W Dai ),( S Sam Weigt ),( Jonathan G Goldin ),( Lila Pourzand ),( Jooae Choe ),( Fereidoun Abtin ),( Matthew S. Brown ),( Pangyu Teng ),( Jin Woo Song ) 대한결핵 및 호흡기학회 2021 대한결핵 및 호흡기학회 추계학술대회 초록집 Vol.129 No.-

Background Interstitial lung disease (ILD) includes a heterogeneous group of disease entities. Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is ultimately fatal, and accurate diagnosis of IPF is critical to clinical decision making. Visual interpretation of chest high resolution CT (HRCT) is subjective and has limited reproducibility, especially with early disease. So we have previously developed attention-gated deep learning algorithm to diagnosis IPF and machine learning to predict IPF progression. The overall aim of IS-IPF is to collect the data from two centers of excellence and evaluate the robustness of the algorithm. We present the preliminary data of the patients studied following disease classification by the multidisciplinary review committees (MDCs) at UCLA and Asan Medical Center (AMC). Methods The IS-IPF study plans to include 234 IPF and 266 non-IPF cases from two large ILD centers (UCLA and AMC). Eligible patients were evaluated in ILD MDC, were >18 years old, had a HRCT, pulmonary function testing, and a committee diagnosis of IPF or non-IPF. Relevant demographic information was collected from the medical record. Results Total 185 IPF and 266 non-IPF patients’ HRCT images have been collected in the IS-IPF study. By center, 51 IPF and 133 non- IPF patients’ HRCT were collected from UCLA, and 134 IPF and 133 non-IPF patients’ HRCT were collected from AMC. On MDC diagnosis, non-IPF cohorts consisted of 33% hypersensitivity pneumonitis, and 67% other connective tissue disease-ILD. Mean age was 61 years (63 IPF and 58 non-IPF), and 63% were male (82% IPF and 57 % non-IPF). Up to date, the predicted FVC was 74.7% and the predicted DLco was 61.6 % in the IPF cohort. Data collection is on-going. Conclusions These well-characterized cohorts will be used to evaluate HRCT image signatures for distinguishing IPF from other ILD, and predicting patient-specific IPF progression within 2 years of diagnosis.

Automated Quantification System Predict a Progressive Phenotype in Rheumatoid Arthritis-associated Interstitial Lung Disease

( Ju Hyun Oh ),( Grace Hyun J. Kim ),( Gary Cross ),( Joseph Barnett ),( Jacob Joseph ),( Jin Woo Song ) 대한결핵 및 호흡기학회 2020 대한결핵 및 호흡기학회 추계학술대회 초록집 Vol.128 No.-

Background Interstitial lung disease (ILD) is the most common pulmonary complication with high mortality in patient with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). It is challenging to predict the prognosis of RA-ILD because of variable clinical course. The aim of this study is to determine the prognostic value of automated quantification system (AQS) in patient with RA-ILD. Methods Clinical data and high resolution computed tomography (HRCT) images were retrospectively analyzed in 144 patients with RA-ILD. The quantitative lung fibrosis (QLF, sum of reticulation and traction bronchiectasis) and quantitative ILD (QILD, sum of QLF, honeycombing [HC] and ground glass opacity [GGO]) scores were measured by AQS along with HC, and GGO on HRCT. Results Of total subjects, mean age was 61.2 years and 43.8% were male. The median follow up period was 52.5 months and 5-year mortality was 30.5%. The Results of AQS assessment were significantly correlated with those of visual assessment except GGO. In the unadjusted Cox analysis, all AQS scores were significantly associated with the 5-year mortality. In the multivariable Cox analysis, except GGO, higher QLF (hazard ratio [HR]:1.068, p 0.002), HC (HR:1.090, p 0.010) and QILD scores (HR:1.048, p 0.010) were independent prognostic factors along with older age and higher erythrocyte sedimentation rate. In the receiver operating characteristic analysis QLF scores showed better performance in predicting 5-year mortality (AUC=0.721, p <0.001; cut-off value=12%, sensitivity 65.9%, specificity 71.0%) than HC and GGO scores, but was similar to QILD scores (Figure 1a). Among patients with RA-ILD, those with high QLF scores (≥12%) showed higher 5-year mortality (50% vs 17.4%, p <0.001) than those without (<12%) (Figure 1b). Conclusions Our Results suggest that QLF scores might be useful to predict prognosis in patients with RA-ILD, and high QLF scores differentiate a progressive phenotype with poor survival similar to idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

Aerosol Cross-Linked Crown Ether Diols Melded with Poly(vinyl alcohol) as Specialized Microfibrous Li⁺ Adsorbents

Limjuco, Lawrence A.,Nisola, Grace M.,Torrejos, Rey Eliseo C.,Han, Jeong Woo,Song, Ho Seong,Parohinog, Khino J.,Koo, Sangho,Lee, Seong-Poong,Chung, Wook-Jin American Chemical Society 2017 ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES Vol.9 No.49

<P>Crown ether (CE)-based Li+ adsorbent micro fibers (MFs) were successfully fabricated through a combined use of CE diols, electrospinning, and aerosol cross-linking. The 14- to 16-membered CEs, with varied ring subunits and cavity dimensions, have two hydroxyl groups for covalent attachments to poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) as the chosen matrix. The CE diols were blended with PVA and transformed into microfibers via electrospinning, a highly effective technique in minimizing CE loss during MF fabrication. Subsequent aerosol glutaraldehyde (GA) cross-linking of the electrospun CE/PVA MFs stabilized the adsorbents in water. The aerosol technique is highly effective in cross-linking the MFs at short time (5 h) with minimal volume requirement of GA solution (2.4 mL g(-1) MF). GA cross-linking alleviated CE leakage from the fibers as the CEs were securely attached with PVA through covalent CE GA PVA linkages. Three types of CE/PVA MFs were fabricated and characterized through Fourier transform infrared-attenuated total reflection, C-13 cross-polarization magic angle spinning NMR, field emission scanning electron microscope, N-2 adsorption/desorption, and universal testing machine. The MFs exhibited pseudo-second-order rate and Langmuir-type Li+ adsorption. At their saturated states, the MFs were able to use 90-99% CEs for 1:1 Li+ complexation, suggesting favorability of their microfibrous structures for CE accessibility to Lit. The MFs were highly Li+ selective in seawater. Neopentyl-bearing CE was most effective in blocking larger monovalents Na+ and K+, whereas the dibenzo CE was best in discriminating divalents Mg2+ and Ca2+. Experimental selectivity trends concur with the reaction enthalpies from density functional theory calculations, confirming the influence of CE structures and cavity dimensions in their 'size-match' Li+ selectivity.</P>

Design of lithium selective crown ethers: Synthesis, extraction and theoretical binding studies

Torrejos, Rey Eliseo C.,Nisola, Grace M.,Song, Ho Seong,Limjuco, Lawrence A.,Lawagon, Chosel P.,Parohinog, Khino J.,Koo, Sangho,Han, Jeong Woo,Chung, Wook-Jin Elsevier 2017 CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL -LAUSANNE- Vol.326 No.-

<P><B>Abstract</B></P> <P>Lithium-selective (Li<SUP>+</SUP>) di-hydroxy crown ethers (CEs 3a–3h) were efficiently synthesized via intermolecular cyclization of bulky bis-epoxide with 1,2-dihydroxybenzene. Bis-epoxides were produced by etherifying allyl bromides with bulky diols to afford diene intermediates, which were subsequently epoxidized. Optimized cyclization reactions were established by changing the solvent, catalyst, and reaction temperature. Complexation abilities of CEs 3a–3h with Li<SUP>+</SUP> and other alkali metals (Na<SUP>+</SUP>, K<SUP>+</SUP>, Cs<SUP>+</SUP>) were assessed by liquid-liquid extraction in dichloromethane-water system. Among the CEs, the highest Li<SUP>+</SUP>/Na<SUP>+</SUP> selectivities were obtained from 3d (α<SUB>Li/Na</SUB> =2519) and 3e (α<SUB>Li/Na</SUB> =1768). DFT calculations reveal that 3d (1.28–1.37Å) and 3e (1.23–1.38Å) had the closest cavity sizes with Li<SUP>+</SUP> diameter (1.36Å). This result affirms that the size-match selectivity of CEs with Li<SUP>+</SUP> was due to the presence of bulky tetramethyl (3d) or bicyclopentyl (3e) subunits with the rigid benzo groups. Complexation with larger cations like Na<SUP>+</SUP>, K<SUP>+</SUP> and Cs<SUP>+</SUP> greatly distorted the 3d and 3e rings as indicated by the larger O-M<SUP>+</SUP> distances on their bulky sides than on their benzo sides. Thus, their (3d, 3e) superior selectivities were due to their Li<SUP>+</SUP> preference and unstable complexation with larger M<SUP>+</SUP>. Enthalpy exchange reaction mechanisms reveal the tendency of all CEs to form 2:1 CE-M<SUP>+</SUP> complexes with larger cations except for 3d, which mainly forms 1:1 CE-M<SUP>+</SUP> hence it is considered most suitable for Li<SUP>+</SUP>. The efficient synthesis of di-hydroxy CEs widens their application not only as extractants but also as solid-supported Li<SUP>+</SUP> adsorbents given the amenability of their OH– groups to further functionalization.</P> <P><B>Highlights</B></P> <P> <UL> <LI> Li<SUP>+</SUP> selective crown ethers (CEs) with bulky and rigid subunits were efficiently synthesized. </LI> <LI> Suitable solvents, catalysts, and reaction conditions for CE synthesis were determined. </LI> <LI> Rigid subunits prevented preorganization effect while bulky groups acted as blocking moiety for bigger metals. </LI> <LI> Liquid-liquid extraction and DFT calculations provided insights on CE-M<SUP>+</SUP> complexes. </LI> </UL> </P> <P><B>Graphical abstract</B></P> <P>[DISPLAY OMISSION]</P>

Effectivesuppression of PRRSV replicating in monocyte- derived macrophages byCD8-depleted PBMC

Sang Ho Cha,Amanda L. Grimm,Joanna Rzepka,Dharani Ajithdoss,Grace Chung,William C,Davis,Jae Young Song,In soo Cho,Jienny Lee,Chak Sum Ho,Chung won J. Chung 대한수의학회 2015 대한수의학회 학술대회발표집 Vol.2015 No.-