• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2016.02a
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• pp.295-295
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• 2016

Recently, TCO films with low carrier concentration, high mobility and high work function are proposed beneficial as front electrode in HIT solar cell due to free-carrier absorption in NIR wavelength region and low Schottky barrier height in the front TCO/a-Si:H(p) interface. We report high transmittance and work function zirconium-doped indium tin oxide (ITO:Zr) films with various plasma (Ar/O2 and Ar) conditions. The role of (Ar/O2) plasma was to enhance the work function of the ITO:Zr films whereas the pure Ar plasma based ITO:Zr showed good electrical properties. The RF magnetron sputtered ITO:Zr films with low resistivity and high transmittance were employed as front electrode in HIT solar cells, yield the best performance of 18.15% with an open-circuit voltage of 710 eV and current density of 34.63 mA/cm2. The high work function ITO:Zr films can be used to modify the front barrier height of HIT solar cell.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
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• 2006.11a
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• pp.320-321
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• 2006

In this work, impedance Spectroscopic analysis was applied to study the effect of plasma treatment on the surface of indium-tin oxide (ITO) anodes using $CF_4g$ as and to model the equivalent circuit for organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs) with the $CF_4$ plasma treatment of ITO surface at the anodes. This device with ITO/TPD/$Alq_3$/LiF/Al structure can be modeled as a simple combination of a resistor and a capacitor. The $CF_4$ plasma treatment on the surface of ITO shifts the vacuum level of the ITO as a result of which the barrier height for hole injection at the ITO/organic interface is reduced. The Impedance spectroscopy measurement of the devices with the $CF_4$ plasma treatment on the surface of ITO anodes shows change of values in parallel resistance ($R_p$) and parallel capacitance ($C_p$).

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
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• 2006.06a
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• pp.436-437
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• 2006

In this work, impedance Spectroscopic analysis was applied to study the effect of plasma treatment on the surface of indum-tin oxide (ITO) anodes using $O_2$ gas and to model the equivalent circuit for organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs) with the $O_2$ plasma treatment of ITO surface at the anodes. This device with ITO/TPD/Alq3/LiF/Al structure can be modeled as a simple combination of a resistor and a capacitor. The $O_2$ plasma treatment on the surface of ITO shifts the vacuum level of the ITO as a result of which the barrier height for hole injection at the ITO/organic interface is reduced. The impedance spectroscopy measurement of the devices with the $O_2$ plasma treatment on the surface of ITO anodes shows change of values in parallel resistance ($R_p$) and parallel capacitance ($C_p$).

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.483-496
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• 1996

The purpose of this study was to describe how Korean nurses overcome the language barrier while working in the U.S. hospital settings. Twelve Korean nurses living in New York metropolitan area were asked open-ended, descriptive questions to collect the data. The interviews were done in Korean. All interviews were audiotaped under the permission of the participants and were transcribed verbatim. The data were analyzed using grounded theory analysis. The research process consisted of two phases. In the first phase 8 Korean nurses were interviewed and analyzed. In the second phase, further data were collected to verify categories and working hypotheses that were emerged from the first phase. The results of this study show that all Korean nurses experienced severe psychological stress such as confusion, anxiety, frustration, loss of self-confidence, embarrassment, guilt, depression, anger, and fear. Among the mode of communication such as listening, speaking, leading, and writing, they had the most difficulty in speaking. Speaking ability was especially important for them because of the emphasis of individualism and self-defense in the U.S. Among the verbal communication modes, non-face-to-face communications such as phone conversation and body language were the most difficu1t for them to overcome. It took at least 2 years for the participants to initially overcome the language barrier in U.S. hospitals. After 2-5 years they began to feel comfortable even in non-face-to-face communication. They could actively search for the better place to work after 5 years. They finally felt comfortable in English and in their job almost after 10 years. The factors that influenced the English improvement were ‘the years of clinical experience in Korea’, ‘the decade they came to the U.S.’ ‘coming to U.S. alone or with other Korean nurses’, ‘racial homogeneity or heterogeneity of the working unit’, and ‘the degree of social support’. The strategies Korean nurses used to overcome the language barrier included depending on the written communication, using ‘nunchi’, working and studying hard, and establishing good interpersonal relationships with co-workers. They also employed assertive behavior of the U.S., such as using more explicit verbal language and employing smiles and eye contact with others during the conversation. The results of the study may help Korean nurses and nursing students who try to work in U.S. hospital settings by understanding problems other Korean nurses faced, factors that influenced their English improvement, and strategies they used. They may also help U.S. nurses and administrators in developing and implementing efficient programs for newly employed Korean nurses by understanding major problems and feelings the Korean nurses experienced and strategies they used to overcome the language barriers.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.29 no.4D
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• pp.499-507
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• 2009

A median barrier in the road is to separate driver and passenger the traffic flow in the 4-line over highway. In order to keep thee safety of and minimize the traffic jam in the traffic accidents, the ubiquitous intelligent median barrier system is proposed in this paper. This system is required to develop the sensor node fields in the median barrier, which detects the traffic accident using vibration sensors and wireless communication network. Free space test to sensing & receiving radio frequency, verification of middleware to report and countermeasure the accident intelligently to police and hospital are carried out.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.20.1-20.18
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• 2021

The gut is an important organ with digestive and immune regulatory function which consistently harbors microbiome ecosystem. The gut microbiome cooperates with the host to regulate the development and function of the immune, metabolic, and nervous systems. It can influence disease processes in the gut as well as extra-intestinal organs, including the brain. The gut closely connects with the central nervous system through dynamic bidirectional communication along the gut-brain axis. The connection between gut environment and brain may affect host mood and behaviors. Disruptions in microbial communities have been implicated in several neurological disorders. A link between the gut microbiota and the brain has long been described, but recent studies have started to reveal the underlying mechanism of the impact of the gut microbiota and gut barrier integrity on the brain and behavior. Here, we summarized the gut barrier environment and the 4 main gut-brain axis pathways. We focused on the important function of gut barrier on neurological diseases such as stress responses and ischemic stroke. Finally, we described the impact of representative environmental sensors generated by gut bacteria on acute neurological disease via the gut-brain axis.

• Journal of the Korean Geosynthetics Society
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.267-275
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• 2018

The dredged sediment management system was developed to have an objective, quantitative and scientific decision for the optimum removal time of dredged sediments behind debris barrier and was set up at the real site. The dredged sediment management system is designed and developed to directly measure the dredged sediments behind debris barrier in the field. This management system is composed of Data Acquisition System (DAS), Solar System and measurement units for measuring the weight of dredge sediments. The weight of dredged sediments, the water level and the rainfall are measured in real time using the monitoring sensors, and their data can be transmitted to the office through a wireless communication method. The monitoring sensors are composed of the rain gauge to measure rainfall, the load cell system to measure the weight of dredged sediments, and water level meter to measure the water level behind debris barrier. The management criteria of dredged sediments behind debris barrier was suggested by using the weight of dredged sediments. At first, the maximum weight of dredged sediments that could be deposited behind debris barrier was estimated. And then when 50%, 70% and 90% of the maximum dredged sediments weight were accumulated behind debris barrier, the management criteria were divided into phases of Outlooks, Watch and Warning, respectively. The weight of dredged sediments can be monitored by using the dredged sediment management system behind debris barrier in real time, and the condition of debris barrier and the removal time of dredged sediments can be decided based on monitoring results.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.53-62
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• 2022

Purpose: This study explored the effects of the elderly group's digital literacy and health empowerment on communication with doctors, considering moderating effect of health beliefs about chronic diseases. Methods: A one-on-one interview survey was conducted with 500 older adults in South Korea. The main variables were digital literacy, health empowerment, communication with doctors, and health belief of chronic diseases. Results: The interaction effect between health empowerment and susceptibility, and health empowerment and perceived barrier were significant. Conclusion: Communication with doctors greatly increased when the elders had high levels of health empowerment and low levels of susceptibility. Also, communication with doctors greatly increased when the elders had high levels of health empowerment and low levels of perceived barriers.

• JSTS:Journal of Semiconductor Technology and Science
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.367-380
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• 2013

In this paper, an analytical threshold voltage model is developed for a short-channel double-material-gate (DMG) strained-silicon (s-Si) on silicon-germanium ($Si_{1-X}Ge_X$) MOSFET structure. The proposed threshold voltage model is based on the so called virtual-cathode potential formulation. The virtual-cathode potential is taken as minimum channel potential along the transverse direction of the channel and is derived from two-dimensional (2D) potential distribution of channel region. The 2D channel potential is formulated by solving the 2D Poisson's equation with suitable boundary conditions in both the strained-Si layer and relaxed $Si_{1-X}Ge_X$ layer. The effects of a number of device parameters like the Ge mole fraction, Si film thickness and gate-length ratio have been considered on threshold voltage. Further, the drain induced barrier lowering (DIBL) has also been analyzed for gate-length ratio and amount of strain variations. The validity of the present 2D analytical model is verified with ATLAS$^{TM}$, a 2D device simulator from Silvaco Inc.

• BMB Reports
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.339-345
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• 2006

The blood-neural barrier (BNB), including blood-brain barrier (BBB) and blood-retinal barrier (BRB), is an endothelial barrier constructed by an extensive network of endothelial cells, astrocytes and neurons to form functional 'neurovascular units', which has an important role in maintaining a precisely regulated microenvironment for reliable neuronal activity. Although failure of the BNB may be a precipitating event or a consequence, the breakdown of BNB is closely related with the development and progression of CNS diseases. Therefore, BNB is most essential in the regulation of microenvironment of the CNS. The BNB is a selective diffusion barrier characterized by tight junctions between endothelial cells, lack of fenestrations, and specific BNB transporters. The BNB have been shown to be astrocyte dependent, for it is formed by the CNS capillary endothelial cells, surrounded by astrocytic end-foot processes. Given the anatomical associations with endothelial cells, it could be supposed that astrocytes play a role in the development, maintenance, and breakdown of the BNB. Therefore, astrocytes-endothelial cells interaction influences the BNB in both physiological and pathological conditions. If we better understand mutual interactions between astrocytes and endothelial cells, in the near future, we could provide a critical solution to the BNB problems and create new opportunities for future success of treating CNS diseases. Here, we focused astrocyte-endothelial cell interaction in the formation and function of the BNB.