• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.38 no.6
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• pp.393-398
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• 2008

A propofol delivery system was prepared using two biocompatible polymeric surfactants, poloxamer 407 and PEG 400. The nanoparticular stability of the micellar system was evaluated in terms of temperature change, storage time and composition. The particle size of the system was slightly increased with elevating temperature from $4^{\circ}C$ to $25^{\circ}C$, but its distribution was unimodal. At $40^{\circ}C$, the system presented a bimodal particle size distribution and the increase in the fraction of particles larger than 15 nm. This result might be due to the expansion of the nanoparticles through micellar swelling at the high temperature. It was found that propofol was gradually come out of the system, stored for a month at three different temperatures (4, 25 and $40^{\circ}C$). The drug loss was apparently dependent on temperature and the system composition. Increasing temperature induced the acceleration of the drug loss of $7{\sim}10%$ at $4^{\circ}C$ and $14{\sim}16 %$ at $40^{\circ}C$. This may be owing to the high diffusivity resulting from the swelling of the hydrophilic surface of the nanoparticle at high temperature. However, the addition of PEG 400 to the system led to the reduction of the drug loss. This result is associated with the previous investigation that PEG coverage decreased diffusion coefficient because of the formation of the denser structure on the surface of nanoparticulate. Nevertheless, the limited amount of PEG, less than 2% (w/v), should be used to prevent the precipitation and discoloration of the system.

• Journal of Powder Materials
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• v.14 no.3 s.62
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• pp.157-164
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• 2007

An electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS) instrument attached on transmission electron microscopy (TEM) becomes a powerful and analytical tool for extracting the noble information of materials using the enhancement of TEM images, elemental analysis, elemental or chemical mapping images, electron energy loss near edge structure (ELNES), and extended energy-loss fine structure (EXELFS). In this review, the principle and applications of EELS which is widely used in material, life, and electronic sciences were introduced.

• The Transactions of the Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers C
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• v.50 no.12
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• pp.639-647
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• 2001

We present an integrated optical microswitch, composed of silicon waveguides, gold-coaled silicon micromirrors, and electrostatic contact actuators, for applications to the optical signal transceivers. For a low switching voltage, we modify the conventional curled electrode microactuator into a electrostatic microactuator with touch-down beams. We fabricate the silicon waveguides and the electrostatically actuated micromirrors using the ICP etching process of SOI wafers. We observe the single mode wave propagation through the silicon waveguide with the measured micromirror loss of $4.18\pm0.25dB$. We analyze major source of the micromirror loss, thereby presenting guidelines for low-loss micromirror designs. From the fabricated microswitch, we measure the switching voltage of 31.74V at the resonant frequency of 6.89kHz. Compared to the conventional microactuator, the present contact microactuator achieves 77.4% reduction of the switching voltage. We also discuss a feasible method to reduce the switching voltage to 10V level by using the electrode insulation layers having the residual stress less than 30MPa.

• Journal of Dental Rehabilitation and Applied Science
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.98-104
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• 2019

Although intentional replantation is frequently used as a treatment modality for endodontic problems, severe periodontal involvement has usually been regarded as a contraindication. However, there are some studies suggesting that intentional replantation could be a successful treatment alternative for periodontally involved teeth. This paper reports the treatment of a tooth with severe periodontal involvement using intentional replantation. The tooth, which had had root canal therapy due to endodontic-periodontal combined lesion but showed extensive bone loss, was gently extracted and replanted after thorough debridement of the root surface. By intentional replantation, a tooth with severe periodontal involvement in this case could be preserved, without extraction, over the course of a 3-year follow-up period.

• Journal of Audiology & Otology
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.91-98
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• 2020

Background and Objectives: This study aimed to compare functional hearing with the use of a personal sound amplification product (PSAP) or a basic hearing aid (HA) among sensorineural hearing impaired listeners. Subjects and Methods: Nineteen participants with mild-to-moderate sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) (26-55 dB HL; pure-tone average, 0.5-4 kHz) were prospectively included. No participants had prior experience with HAs or PSAPs. Audiograms, speech intelligibility in both quiet and noisy environments, speech quality, and preference were assessed in three different listening conditions: unaided, with the HA, and with the PSAP. Results: The use of PSAP was associated with significant improvement in pure-tone thresholds at 1, 2, and 4 kHz compared to the unaided condition (all p<0.01). In the quiet environment, speech intelligibility was significantly improved after wearing a PSAP compared to the unaided condition (p<0.001), and this improvement was better than the result obtained with the HA. The PSAP also demonstrated similar improvement in the most comfortable levels compared to those obtained with the HA (p<0.05). However, there was no significant improvement of speech intelligibility in a noisy environment when wearing the PSAP (p=0.160). There was no significant difference in the reported speech quality produced by either device or in participant preference for the PSAP or HA. Conclusions: The current result suggests that PSAPs provide considerable benefits to speech intelligibility in a quiet environment and can be a good alternative to compensate for mild-to-moderate SNHL.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.245-254
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• 2022

In this study, we tried to investigate the efficacy of combined light therapy using low-power lasers at 655 nm and LEDs emitting wavelengths at 625 ± 5 nm and 850 ± 10 nm in hair loss and scalp. A total of 33 subjects were enrolled in this clinical trial. Each subject used the LLLT and LED device on the scalp for 10 min on a daily basis for 12 weeks. After 12 weeks of LLLT and LED device use, there were significant improvements in redness, elasticity, and hydration of the scalp. Additionally, hair luster and tensile strength were improved. A remarkable decrease in total shed hairs was observed in all subjects at 4, 8, and 12 weeks without any serious adverse event. Combined light therapy using LLLT and LEDs proved to be an effective treatment for reducing hair loss and improving scalp condition.

• Korean Journal of Audiology
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.91-98
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• 2020

Background and Objectives: This study aimed to compare functional hearing with the use of a personal sound amplification product (PSAP) or a basic hearing aid (HA) among sensorineural hearing impaired listeners. Subjects and Methods: Nineteen participants with mild-to-moderate sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) (26-55 dB HL; pure-tone average, 0.5-4 kHz) were prospectively included. No participants had prior experience with HAs or PSAPs. Audiograms, speech intelligibility in both quiet and noisy environments, speech quality, and preference were assessed in three different listening conditions: unaided, with the HA, and with the PSAP. Results: The use of PSAP was associated with significant improvement in pure-tone thresholds at 1, 2, and 4 kHz compared to the unaided condition (all p<0.01). In the quiet environment, speech intelligibility was significantly improved after wearing a PSAP compared to the unaided condition (p<0.001), and this improvement was better than the result obtained with the HA. The PSAP also demonstrated similar improvement in the most comfortable levels compared to those obtained with the HA (p<0.05). However, there was no significant improvement of speech intelligibility in a noisy environment when wearing the PSAP (p=0.160). There was no significant difference in the reported speech quality produced by either device or in participant preference for the PSAP or HA. Conclusions: The current result suggests that PSAPs provide considerable benefits to speech intelligibility in a quiet environment and can be a good alternative to compensate for mild-to-moderate SNHL.

• The Transactions of the Korean Institute of Power Electronics
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.33-39
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• 2022

A multi-phase brushless direct current (BLDC) motor is widely used in large-capacity electric propulsion systems such as submarines and electric ships. In particular, in the field of military submarines, the polyphaser motor must suppress torque ripple in various failure situations to reduce noise and ensure stable operation for a long time. In this paper, we propose a polyphaser current control method that can improve efficiency and reduce torque ripple by minimizing the increase in stator winding loss at maximum output torque by controlling the phase angle and amplitude of the steady-state current during open circuit failure of the stator winding. The proposed control method controls the magnitude and phase angle of the healthy phase current, excluding the faulty phase, to compensate for the torque ripple that occurs in the case of a phase open failure of the motor. The magnitude and phase angle of the controlled steady-state current are calculated for each phase so that copper loss increase is minimized. The proposed control method was verified using hardware-in-the-loop simulation (HILS) of a 12-phase BLDC motor. HILS verification confirmed that the increase in the loss of the stator winding and the magnitude of the torque ripple decreased compared with the open phase fault of the motor.

• Journal of Audiology & Otology
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.175-180
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• 2019

Diagnosis of pre-lingual hearing loss (HL) is difficult owing to the high number of genes responsible. The most frequent cause of HL is DFNB1 due to mutations in the GJB2 gene. It represents up to 40% of HL cases in some populations. In Iran, it has previously been shown that DFNB1 accounts for 16-18% of cases but varies among different ethnic groups. Here, we reviewed results from our three previous publications and data from other published mutation reports to provide a comprehensive collection of data for GJB2 mutations and HL in northern Iran. In total, 903 unrelated families from six different provinces, viz., Gilan, Mazandaran, Golestan, Ghazvin, Semnan, and Tehran, were included and analyzed for the type and prevalence of GJB2 mutations. A total of 23 different genetic variants were detected from which 18 GJB2 mutations were identified. GJB2 mutations were 20.7% in the studied northern provinces, which was significantly higher than that reported in southern populations of Iran. Moreover, a gradient in the frequency of GJB2 mutations from north to south Iran was observed. c.35delG was the most common mutation, accounting for 58.4% of the cases studied. This study suggests that c.35delG mutation in GJB2 is the most important cause of HL in northern Iran.

• Korean Journal of Audiology
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.175-180
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• 2019

Diagnosis of pre-lingual hearing loss (HL) is difficult owing to the high number of genes responsible. The most frequent cause of HL is DFNB1 due to mutations in the GJB2 gene. It represents up to 40% of HL cases in some populations. In Iran, it has previously been shown that DFNB1 accounts for 16-18% of cases but varies among different ethnic groups. Here, we reviewed results from our three previous publications and data from other published mutation reports to provide a comprehensive collection of data for GJB2 mutations and HL in northern Iran. In total, 903 unrelated families from six different provinces, viz., Gilan, Mazandaran, Golestan, Ghazvin, Semnan, and Tehran, were included and analyzed for the type and prevalence of GJB2 mutations. A total of 23 different genetic variants were detected from which 18 GJB2 mutations were identified. GJB2 mutations were 20.7% in the studied northern provinces, which was significantly higher than that reported in southern populations of Iran. Moreover, a gradient in the frequency of GJB2 mutations from north to south Iran was observed. c.35delG was the most common mutation, accounting for 58.4% of the cases studied. This study suggests that c.35delG mutation in GJB2 is the most important cause of HL in northern Iran.