• Journal of Surface Science and Engineering
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• v.49 no.2
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• pp.111-118
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• 2016

A method to quantitatively analyze the defects formed by the hydrogen evolution during electroplating was suggested based on the theoretical approach of the small angle neutron scattering technique. In case of trivalent chrome layers, an isolated defect size due to the hydrogen evolution was about 40 nm. Direct and pulse plating conditions gave the average defect size of about 4.9 and $4.5{\mu}m$ with rod or calabash shape, respectively. Current density change of the pulse plating from $1.5A/dm^2$ to $2.0A/dm^2$ enlarged the average defect size from 3.3 to $7.8{\mu}m$. The defect morphology like rod or calabash was originated by inter-connecting the isolated defects. Small angle neutron scattering was useful to quantitatively evaluate defect morphology of the deposit.

• Journal of Surface Science and Engineering
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• v.51 no.6
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• pp.387-392
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• 2018

Nanopatterning is one of the essential nanotechnologies to fabricate electronic and energy nanodevices. Therefore, many research group members made a lot of efforts to develop simple and useful nanopatterning methods to obtain highly ordered nanostructures with functionality. In this study, in order to achieve pattern formation of three-dimensional (3D) hierarchical nanostructures, we introduce a simple and useful patterning method (nano-transfer printing (n-TP) process) consisting of various linewidths for diverse materials. Pt and $WO_3$ hybrid line structures were successfully stacked on a flexible polyimide substrate as a multi-layered hybrid 3D pattern of Pt/WO3/Pt with line-widths of $1{\mu}m$, $1{\mu}m$ and 250 nm, respectively. This simple approach suggests how to fabricate multiscale hybrid nanostructures composed of multiple materials. In addition, functional hybrid nanostructures can be expected to be applicable to various next-generation electronic devices, such as nonvolatile memories and energy harvesters.

• Asia-Pacific Journal of Atmospheric Sciences
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• v.54 no.4
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• pp.527-544
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• 2018

This paper presents a nighttime sea fog detection algorithm incorporating unsupervised learning technique. The algorithm is based on data sets that combine brightness temperatures from the $3.7{\mu}m$ and $10.8{\mu}m$ channels of the meteorological imager (MI) onboard the Communication, Ocean and Meteorological Satellite (COMS), with sea surface temperature from the Operational Sea Surface Temperature and Sea Ice Analysis (OSTIA). Previous algorithms generally employed threshold values including the brightness temperature difference between the near infrared and infrared. The threshold values were previously determined from climatological analysis or model simulation. Although this method using predetermined thresholds is very simple and effective in detecting low cloud, it has difficulty in distinguishing fog from stratus because they share similar characteristics of particle size and altitude. In order to improve this, the unsupervised learning approach, which allows a more effective interpretation from the insufficient information, has been utilized. The unsupervised learning method employed in this paper is the expectation-maximization (EM) algorithm that is widely used in incomplete data problems. It identifies distinguishing features of the data by organizing and optimizing the data. This allows for the application of optimal threshold values for fog detection by considering the characteristics of a specific domain. The algorithm has been evaluated using the Cloud-Aerosol Lidar with Orthogonal Polarization (CALIOP) vertical profile products, which showed promising results within a local domain with probability of detection (POD) of 0.753 and critical success index (CSI) of 0.477, respectively.

• Journal of the Institute of Electronics Engineers of Korea SD
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• v.47 no.6
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• pp.13-21
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• 2010

A energy efficient $V_{pp}$ generator using a variable pumping frequency for mobile DRAM is presented in this paper. The proposed $V_{pp}$ generator exploits 3 stages of a cross-coupled charge pump for energy efficiency. Instead of using a fixed pumping frequency in the conventional $V_{pp}$ generator, our proposed $V_{pp}$ generator adopts a voltage-controlled oscillator and uses variable frequencies to reduce the ramp-up time. As a result, our $V_{pp}$ generator generates 3.0 V output voltage with 24.0-${\mu}s$ ramp-up time at 2 mA current load and 1 nF capacitor load with 1.2 V supply voltage. Experimental results show that the proposed $V_{pp}$ generator consumes around 26% less energy (1573 nJ $\rightarrow$ 1162 nJ) and reduces 29% less ramp-up time (33.7-${\mu}s$ $\rightarrow$ 24.0-${\mu}s$) compared to the conventional approach.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.2081-2086
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• 2015

Gecko is a kind of traditional Chinese medicine with remarkable antineoplastic activity. However, undefined mechanisms and ambiguity regarding active ingredients limit new drug development from gecko. This study was conducted to assess anti-angiogenic properties of the aqueous extracts of fresh gecko (AG) or macromolecular components separated from AG (M-AG). An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) approach was applied to detect the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) secretion of the tumor cells treated with AG or M-AG. The effect of AG or M-AG on vascular endothelial cell proliferation and migratory ability was analyzed by tetrazolium dye colorimetric method, transwell and wound-healing assays. Chick embryo chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) assays were used to ensure the anti-angiogenic activity of M-AG in vivo. The results showed that AG or M-AG inhibited the VEGF secretion of tumor cells, the relative inhibition rates of AG and M-AG being 27.2% and 53.2% respectively at a concentration of $20{\mu}L/mL$. AG and M-AG inhibited the vascular endothelial (VE) cell proliferation with IC50 values of $11.5{\pm}0.5{\mu}L/mL$ and $12.9{\pm}0.4{\mu}L/mL$ respectively. The VE cell migration potential was inhibited significantly (p<0.01) by the AG (${\geq}24{\mu}L/mL$) or M-AG (${\geq}12\mu}L/mL$) treatment. In vivo, neovascularization of CAM treated with M-AG was inhibited significantly (p<0.05) at a concentration of ${\geq}0.4{\mu}L/mL$. This study provided evidence that anti-angiogenesis is one of the anti-tumor mechanisms of AG and M-AG, with the latter as a promising active component.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.39 no.1 s.115
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• pp.93-99
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• 2006

Primary productivity was determined by using $^{13}C$ tracer according to different cell size of phytoplank-ton through in situ incubation experiments in upper stream of the Lake Shihwa. The average concentration of chlorophyll a was 14 ${\mu}g\;L^{-1}$ demonstrating an eutrophic water. The ratio of POC/Chl-a was lower than 30, reflecting that the origin of organic matter might be mainly phytoplankton. The primary productivity was 93.9 mgC m^{-2}\;d^{-1}$ at St. 1, which was about 40-fold lower than the average value of the lake (3,972 mgC m^{-2}\;d^{-1}$) determined by Choi et al. (1997) before opening of gate but it was higher than the average primary productivity (3.98 mgC m^{-2}\;d^{-1}$) reported by KOWACO in 1993 before constructing dam. The fractionated size (20 ${\sim}$ 53 ${\mu}m$) of phytoplankton community account for 51% of total primary productivity, indicating the highest assimilation rate. This study suggest that $^{13}C$ tracer methodology should be applied as a useful approach for the water ecological research in the future.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.50 no.2
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• pp.97-104
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• 2017

Here we present the timings of reactivated events from a fault in the northern Pohang area, which should be located at the northern-end of Yangsan fault line, the major fault in the southeastern Korean Peninsula. Recently developed illite-age-analysis (IAA) approach was employed for determining the fault-activated timing, combined with illite-polytype quantification using the optimized full-pattern-fitting (FPF) method, and K-Ar age-dating for each size fraction($<0.1{\mu}m$, $0.1-0.4{\mu}m$, and $0.4-1.0{\mu}m$) of 4 fault clay samples. Two chronological records of brittle fault-activation events were recognized at $19.6{\pm}1.86Ma$ and $26.1{\pm}2.55-27.9{\pm}3.46Ma$. The ages are much younger than those of fault clays from Sangcheon-ri area (41.5~43.5 and 50.7 Ma), the southern part of Yangsan fault line, and are close to the timing of East Sea-opening event. Further chronological analysis for additional sites of the Yangsan fault should be needed to reveal the time-scheme of the tectonic events and their spatial distributions along the fault line.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.46 no.1
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• pp.7-12
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• 2006

We have studied pharmacokinetics of a new anti-human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) agent VP-0501 and its amino acid prodrug VP-0501AL which is designed to improve oral bioavailability. After oral administration at 100 mg/kg dose in rats (n = 4), VP-0501 was not detectable in plasma (<50 ng/ml), while after the administration of VP-0501AL, VP-0501 was quantitatively detected, at least for 8 hrs, with Cmax of ca. $2.5{\mu}g/ml$ and AUC of $8hr^{\ast}{\mu}g/ml$. When VP-0501 was intravenously administered at 50mg/kg, this compound appeared at a marginal level in plasma with AUC of $2hr^{\ast}{\mu}g/ml$, $t_{1/2}$ of 2 hr, $C_0$ of $0.7{\mu}g/ml$, and MRT of 3 hr. On the other hand, with intravenous VP-0501AL at the same dose, both the prodrug VP-0501AL and its metabolite VP-0501 appeared comparatively at higher level in the plasma: pharmacokinetic parameters of VP-0501AL including $Vd_{\beta}$, AUC, $t_{1/2,{\beta}}$, $C_0$, $CL_{tot}$, and MRT were ca. 2 L/kg, $70hr^{\ast}{\mu}g/ml$, 2 hr, $180{\mu}g/ml$, 0.7 L/hr/kg, and 1 hr, respectively. These results demonstrate that attachment of amino acid alanine to VP-0501 is an effective approach for improvement of its oral bioavailability. Therefore, VP-0501AL is expected to become a new highly bioavailable and potent anti-AIDS drug candidate/lead compound.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.224-228
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• 2001

DA-5018, a recently synthesized capsaicin analog, appears to possess potent analgesic activity when administered topically. The objective of this study is to test the feasibility of the topical administration of this compound. Specifically, our goal was to identify vehicle system that permit a reasonable transdermal permeation of the compound in mice. Among the vehicles examined, isopropyl myristate (IPM) showed the largest in vitro permeability across the intact skin (83.6 ${\pm}$ 5.42${\mu}$l/$\textrm{cm}^2$/h ). However, due to the limited solubility of DA-5018 in IPM (0.53 mg/ml), the maximal flux from the IPM medium remained at only 44.3 ${\pm}2.87{\mu}$g/$\textrm{cm}^2$/hr. In order to increase the flux, addition of better solvents for DA-5018 was attempted, under the assumption that flux is the result of both solubility and permeability. Ethoxydiglycol (EG) and oleic acid (OA) were selected as examples of food solvents. The addition of IC or OA to IPM at a 1:1 volume ratio resulted in a comparable increase in the solubility of the compound (i.e., to 61.1 and 50.2 mg/ml for EG and OA, respectively). However, the addition of EG at a 1:1 volume ratio, for example, increased the flux 6.3 fold (i.e., $279{\mu}$g/$\textrm{cm}^2$/hr), while OA, at a 1:1 volume ratio, decreased the flux 5 fold (i.e., $9.26{\mu}$g/$\textrm{cm}^2$//hr). The mechanism of this discrepancy between EG and OA was investigated by measuring the permeabilty of DA-5018 across the stratum corneum-removed skin of the mouse, under the hypothesis that the viable skin layer may serve as a barrier for the permeation of lipophilic substances such as DA 5018. The permeability of DA-5018, from the medium of EG or OA, across the viable skin differed greatly for EG ($0.41{\mu}$l/$\textrm{cm}^2$/hr) and OA ($0.086{\mu}$l/$\textrm{cm}^2$/hr), suggesting that a higher permeability across the viable skin layer is needed for the second solvents. The maximum flux across the intact skin was achieved for DA-5018 when EG was added to IPM at a 1:1 volume ratio. Thus, the use of a binary system appears to be the best approach for realizing the transdermal delivery of DA-5018 at a reasonable rate.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.397-407
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• 2017

To estimate the structural seismic demand, some methods are based on an equivalent linear system such as the Capacity Spectrum Method, the N2 method and the Equivalent Linearization method. Another category, widely investigated, is based on displacement correction such as the Displacement Coefficient Method and the Coefficient Method. Its basic concept consists in converting the elastic linear displacement of an equivalent Single Degree of Freedom system (SDOF) into a corresponding inelastic displacement. It relies on adequate modifying or reduction coefficient such as the inelastic deformation ratio which is usually developed for systems with known ductility factors ($C_{\mu}$) and ($C_R$) for known yield-strength reduction factor. The present paper proposes a rational approach which estimates this inelastic deformation ratio for SDOF bilinear systems by rigorous nonlinear analysis. It proposes a new inelastic deformation ratio which unifies and combines both $C_{\mu}$ and $C_R$ effects. It is defined by the ratio between the inelastic and elastic maximum lateral displacement demands. Three options are investigated in order to express the inelastic response spectra in terms of: ductility demand, yield strength reduction factor, and inelastic deformation ratio which depends on the period, the post-to-preyield stiffness ratio, the yield strength and the peak ground acceleration. This new inelastic deformation ratio ($C_{\eta}$) is describes the response spectra and is related to the capacity curve (pushover curve): normalized yield strength coefficient (${\eta}$), post-to-preyield stiffness ratio (${\alpha}$), natural period (T), peak ductility factor (${\mu}$), and the yield strength reduction factor ($R_y$). For illustrative purposes, instantaneous ductility demand and yield strength reduction factor for a SDOF system subject to various recorded motions (El-Centro 1940 (N/S), Boumerdes: Algeria 2003). The method accuracy is investigated and compared to classical formulations, for various hysteretic models and values of the normalized yield strength coefficient (${\eta}$), post-to-preyield stiffness ratio (${\alpha}$), and natural period (T). Though the ductility demand and yield strength reduction factor differ greatly for some given T and ${\eta}$ ranges, they remain take close when ${\eta}>1$, whereas they are equal to 1 for periods $T{\geq}1s$.