• Journal of Sensor Science and Technology
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.423-427
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• 2022

A pressure sensor that mimics the sensing ability of human skin has emerged as high-profile technology because it shows remarkable applications in numerous fields such as robotics, human health monitoring, and artificial prosthetics. Whereas recent pressure sensors have achieved high sensitivity similar to that of human skin, they still show limited detection bandwidth. Moreover, once these e-skin are fabricated, their sensitivity and stiffness are fixed; therefore, they can be used for only limited applications. Our study proposes a new adaptive pressure sensor built with uniform gallium microdroplet-elastomer composite. Based on the phase transition of gallium microdroplets, the proposed sensor undergoes mode transformation, enabling it to have a higher sensitivity and wider detection bandwidth compared with those of human skin. In addition, we succeeded in extending a single adaptive pressure sensor to sensor arrays based on its high uniformity, reproducibility, and large-scale manufacturability. Finally, we designed an adaptive e-skin with the sensor array and demonstrated its applications on health monitoring tasks including blood pulse and body weight measurements.

• Journal of Korean Biological Nursing Science
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.20-37
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• 2000

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationships between the differentials in life styles and their effect on the epidermal facial tissue in order to provide a basis for health professionals so that they might better be able to maintain and promote healthy skin care and further delay the premature ageing of the epidermal facial tissue. The subjects consisted of 145 females of various ages who visited skin care room in cerming health promoting behaviors(Park In sook's Profile) and questions on their behavioral practices pertaining to personal skin care were used. The investigation also ess of the four parts of the epidermal facial tissue studied. All data collected wee entered into the SAS program and analyzed for frequency, percentages, the utilized Pusan. The study dates ranged from May 1, 1998 to May 30, 1998. The methods used for this investigation were a questionnaire survey consisting of general objective questions. The questions con a "skin analyzer" to measured levels of moisturizing hydrated, facial oils, and roughnmean, t-test, ANOVA, and Pearson Correlation Coefficients. The results of this study were as follows ; 1. Epidermal facial oil was at its highest levels in the chin area with additional decreasing levels in the forehead and nose regions. The least regions were those of the cheeks. The highest levels of hydration on the other hand started with the forehead followed by the area of the chin, the cheeks and the lowest level of epidermal facial hydration was in the region of the nose. 2. The average score of the performance in the health promoting behaviors variable was 139.51. The variables with the highest degree of the performance were rest and sleeping(35.71). The lowest degree was hiegenic life(23.44). 3. The relationship health promoting behaviors and epidermal condition was not correlated with oil, hydration and roughness of the skin surface. 4. Skin care behavioral characteristics related to epidermal condition were washing style and temperature of washing water. 5. General characteristics related to epidermal condition were occupation, education level, acne and melasma. In conclusion, this study showed that several factors were significant in the behavior of skin care. Clear knowledge of both internal and external factors which affect the epidermal condition will help women to pursue active and appropriate practices in their health behaviors and skin care.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.843-851
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• 1995

To observe the effect of Demodex canis infection on the cellular immune response and hematological profile, 8 Doberman pinschers experimentally infected with D cains and 4 uninfected control dogs were sensitized with 2, 4-dinitro-chlorobenzene(DNCB) on the skin and were challenged with DNCB 14 days after the initial sensitization to elicit allergic contact dermatitis. Histological and hematological changes of these dogs were then observed. Macroscopic changes of skin challenged with DNCB in D canis-infected dogs included significantly reduced area of allergic reaction(p<0.05) than in uninfected control group. Infiltration of inflammatory cells in the D canis-infected group was also significantly reduced(p<0.05) than in the uninfected control group. These changes indicated that the cell-mediated immune response of the animals was suppressed by the infection with D canis. Total white blood cell count in dogs infected with D canis was increased when dogs were sensitized with DNCB (p<0.01). The result appeared to be caused by stress due to D canis infection, secondary bacterial infection and decreased efficacy of general body defense system. Blood eosionophils were increased in D canis-infected dogs which appreared to be caused by the allergic contact dermatitis. Blood chemistry analysis revealed that total protein and globulin were increased(p<0.05), while albumin level was decreased. This result appeared to be caused by secondary bacterial infection.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.657-663
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• 1996

The API STAPH system was compared with conventional methods for identification of 214 strains of Staphylococcus hyicus subsp. hyicus isolated from cases of exudative epidermitis in piglets, skin of healthy pigs, skin of healthy chickens and bovine intramammary infections, and biochemical characteristics among the swine, avian and bovine strains were also compared. All of the swine and bovine strains produced acid within 24 hours from fructose, lactose and trehalose by conventional methods, but some of the avian strains showed a delayed positive reaction in these carbohydrates. These delayed positive strains in conventional methods gave usually negative results for them in the API STAPH system. With the API STAPH system, eighteen different profile numbers were encountered in 214 strains of swine, avian and bovine origin. The swine and bovine strains, respectively, were distributed among 4 profiles, while the avian strains were distributed among 17 profiles. The profile number observed most frequently in the strains of each animal species was uniformly 6 516 153. By conventional methods, approximately 96% of the swine strains were positive for ${\beta}$-glucuronidase, but not in any strains from chickens and cattle. For hyaluronidase production determined by degradation of sodium hyaluronidate in a solid culture medium, all the swine and bovine strains were positive, but only 37.5% of the avian strains were positive for it. From these findings, there were differences in the production of extracellular active substances between swine strains of Staphylococcus hyicus subsp. hyicus and those isolated from chickens and cattle.

• The Journal of the Korean Society for Microbiology
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.171-180
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• 2000

Ninety two strains of Streptococcus pyogenes were isolated from patients with pharyngitis, scarlet fever, skin infection, and invasive streptococcal infections in Seoul, Korea from January to December, 1998. All isolates were epidemiologically characterized by T protein serotype, and serum opacity factor (OF) detection to phenotypes. To analyze the genetic relationship, fifty two isolates including 32 erythromycin-clindamycin (Em-Cm) resistant strains, 20 antimicrobial susceptible strains were attempted to the pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). T protein serotype showed 16 kinds in distribution including T12 and T4. Among the total isolates, 40 strains (43.5%) belonged to the T12 serotype and twenty strains (21.7%) to T4 serotype. On the other hand, when infection aspect of S. pyogenes isolates were analysed by T serotype distribution, T12 type was predominant for pharyngitidis which contributed to 21 strains (53%) and for skin infection isolates which contributed to 11 strains (28%), respectively. In case of T4 type, it was the most predominant pharyngitidis isolates which contributed to 8 strains (40%). In T serotype distribution of Em-Cm resistant strains, 27 strains (84%) of the thirty two showed T12 serotype. In minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values of Em-Cm resistance isolates, thirty two isolates showed resistant to erythromycin 27 strains (84%), had high MIC of >$128\;{\mu}g/ml$. And also to clindamycin, twenty two strains (69%) had high MIC of >$128\;{\mu}g/ml$. When OF detection of Em-Cm resistance of S. pyogenes isolates were analyzed by T serotype distribution, T12 serotype isolates revealed that all of the isolates except one strain were OF negative. In PFGE profile analysis to Em-Cm resistance isolates, of the twenty seven, Em-Cm resistance of T12 serotype isolates, 26 strains showed identical PFGE profile and all of these isolates revealed that OF negative. Eighty four percent of Em-Cm resistance S. pyogenes isolates had identical phenotype and PFGE profile. These results strongly suggested that the Em-Cm resistant S. pyogenes isolates from Seoul area showed close genetic correlation and PFGE could be available tool for molecular epidemiology.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.337-345
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• 1998

Purpose : To obtain the uniform dose at limited depth to entire surface of the body, the dose characteristics of degraded electron beam of the large target-skin distance and the dose distribution of the six-dual electron fields were investigated Materials and Method : The experimental dose distributions included the depth dose curve, spatial dose and attenuated electron beam were determined with 300 cm of target-skin distance (TSD) and full collimator size (35*35 $cm^2$ on TSD 100 cm) in 4 MeV electron beam energy. Actual collimated field size of 105 cm * 105 cm at the distance of 300 cm could include entire hemibody. A patient was standing on step board with hands up and holding the pole to stabilize his/her positions for the six-dual fields technique. As a scatter-degrader, 0.5 cm of acrylic plate was inserted at 20 cm from the body surface on the electron beam path to induce ray scattering and to increase the skin dose. Results : The full width at half maximum(FWHM) of dose profile was 130 cm in large field of 105*105 $cm^2$ The width of $100\pm10\%$ of the resultant dose from two adjacent fields which were separated at 25 cm from field edge for obtaining the dose unifomity was extended to 186 cm. The depth of maximum dose lies at 5 mm and the 80$\%$ depth dose lies between 7 and 8 mm for the degraded electron beam by using the 0.5 cm thickness of acrylic absorber. Total skin electron beam irradiation (TSEBI) was carried out using the six dual fields has been developed at Stanford University. The dose distribution in TSEBI showed relatively uniform around the flat region of skin except the protruding and deeply curvatured portion of the body, which showed excess of dose at the former and less dose at the latter. Conclusion : The percent depth dose, profile curves and superimposed dose distribution were investigated using the degraded electron beam through the beam absorber. The dose distribution obtained by experiments of TSEBI showed within$\pm10\%$ difference except the protruding area of skin which needs a shield and deeply curvatured region of skin which needs boosting dose.

• Proceedings of the KIEE Conference
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• 2008.07a
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• pp.1997-1998
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• 2008

Pulse diagnosis is the one of the most important diagnostic process to traditional medical doctors. Although the pulse diagnosis position, Gwan is apart from Chon or Cheok by 10$\sim$20mm at most, traditional medical doctors applies different indent pressures and even they states different pulse images are felt at Chon, Gwan and Cheok. One the other hand, the education on pulse diagnosis behavior includes tantalizing problem caused by no tool for communication between trainer and trainee. On account of this situation, we tried to develop a system which can measure the hold-down pressure during a pulse diagnosis and compare the hold-down pressure profile of trainer and that of trainee. This system can be divided into three parts - pulse pressure sensing part, signal acquisition part and data storing part. A correction curve was generated by the relation between output voltages and standard weights. Using this system, 3 channel hold-down pressure profile of a oriental medical doctor were recorded three times. In the profile, three period were observed and all period included two process for searching the depth of pulsation and for classifying the pulse feeling into one or more of 28 pulse types. The maximum value of pulse profile was 1.3$kg{\cdot}f$ which was more than reported by previous chinese groups and the mean values of three channel ranged from 240$g{\cdot}f$ to 430$g{\cdot}f$. In frequency domain, each channel has some dominant frequency components - about 10Hz, 35Hz and 75Hz. In further study, we want to collect more profiles from lage number of oriental medicine doctors and hope to develop a measuring system which can measure the hold-down pressure on subject's skin directly.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.273-278
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• 2005

Nicotine transdermal therapeutic systems $(TTS_S)$ have been regarded as an effective mean to aid smoking cessation. However, most of nicotine $TTS_S$ in the market have some problems such as unpleasant side effects and skin irritation due to the excess amount of the drug permeated and the properties of the additives employed. In order to solve these problems, new nicotine $TTS_S$ were formulated using biocompatible additives. The optimized formula of the drug layer consisted of nicotine, propylene glycol and poloxamer 188 at the ratio of 1.2: 17.0: 2.0. The drug layer had the sickness of $1,250\;{\mu}m$, the pH of 8.12. The skin permeation rate of nicotine from optimized nicotine patch (NP) was $21.5\;{\mu}g/cm^2/h$. Transdermal administration of nicotine patch has been carried out for the determination of pharmacokinetic parameters in rats. Steady-state plasma concentration of nicotine following transdermal application of NP (area of patch = $15\;cm^2$) on the dorsal skin of rats was 143.2 ng/ml and AUC for 24 hrs was 3,022 ng h/ml. In case of $EXODUS^{\circledR}$ and Nicotinell $TTS^{\circledR}$, the steady-state plasma concentration of nicotine and ACU for 24 hrs were 428.9 ng/ml, $9,121\;ng{\cdot}hr/ml$ and 155.3 ng/ml, $3,152\;ng{\cdot}h/ml$, respectively. NP showed the experimental plasma nicotine concentration profile was very similar to the simulated one and had an appropriate skin permeation rate and a steady-state concentration of nicotine, which can show therapeutic blood levels of the drug for 24 hrs without severe side effects.

• Proceedings of the Acoustical Society of Korea Conference
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• spring
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• pp.269-273
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• 1999

Combination of mental stress task with noise background is a traditional tool employed in psychophysiology. However, intensity of background noise is a factor affecting both performance on test and psychophysiological responses associated with stress evoked by mental load in noisy environment. In the current study on 7 subjects we analyzed the influence of white noise (WN) intensity (55, 70, and 85 dB[A] ) on psychophysiological responses during word recognition test performed on noise background. There were recorded following physiological variables: electrodermal activity (EDA) , namely, skin conductance level (SCL), skin conductance response (SCR) amplitude (SCR-A), rise time and total number of SCRs (N-SCR); cardiovascular activity, e.g., heart rate (HR), respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) index, pulse transit time (PTT), finger pulse volume (PV), skin temperature (SKT) and respiratory activity, such as respiration rate (RESP-R) and inspiration wane amplitude (RESP-A) during baseline resting state and 40 s long performance on 3 similar Korean word recognition tests with different WN intensity (55, 70, and 85 dB). Electrodermal responses (SCR-A, SCL, N-SCR) demonstrated gradual increment with increased intensity of noise, and this increase of response magnitude with higher intensity of noise was typical also for r skin temperature (phasic SKT decrease) and pulse volume (phasic and tonic PV decrease). However, some cardiovascular and respiratory responses did not exhibit same tendency of gradual increase of reactivity , namely HR, as well as RESP-R and RESP-A showed decrement of response magnitudes. Important finding in terms of cardiovascular reactivity was that 55 and 70dB evoked similar profiles, while 85dB WN resulted in significantly different profile of reactions, suggesting that there exists a threshold level after which intensive auditory stimulation elicits psychophyslological responses pattern of different quality. There are discussed potential autonomic mechanism involved in mediation of observed physiological responses.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.71-76
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• 2010

Skin irritation caused by retinol and retinoic acid results in mild erythema called as retinoid dermatitis. To develop compounds modulating the retinoid dermatitis, we tried to establish the screening method for retinoid dermatitis. At first we examined the inflammatory cytokine profile in neonatal human dermal fibroblasts which are known to be one of main site of retinoid action. As a result, interleukin-8 (IL-8) and monocytes chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) were significantly produced by all trans retinoic acid (ATRA) and all trans retinol (ATROL) in dermal fibroblasts. Especially the production of MCP-1 was more than that of IL-8. The production of MCP-1 by retinoid was dose-dependently increased, continuing up to 24 hrs. After then using ethacrynic acid (ECA) known to reduce mouse ear edema induced by ATRA, we checked whether ECA suppressed the production of MCP-1. As a result, ECA effectively suppressed the production of MCP-1 in the ATRA- or ATROL-treated-fibroblasts. These results suggested that screening method effectively reflects the in vivo anti-inflammatory activity of ECA. It was reported that citral inhibited the enzyme involved in the conversion of ATROL to ATRA. We showed that citral suppressed the production of MCP-1 in ATROL-treated fibroblasts. We expect these finding might be helpful to find useful compounds modulating the side effects of retinoid or retinoid dermatitis.