• Journal of Korean Vacuum Science & Technology
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• v.4 no.4
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• pp.102-106
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• 2000

We report scanning force microscope (SFM) observations of enhanced calcite dissolution in aqueous solution due to mechanical stimulation induced by the SFM tip. Images and mechanical treatment were performed in saturated ($\geq$ 60 ${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$) CaCO$_3$ solution adjusted to pH~9. Small area scans of monolayer steps significantly increased the step velocity in the scanned area (in the direction corresponding to dissolution) when the applied contact force is above about 160 nN fer the tips employed. The step velocity could be increased at least an order of magnitude by scanning at even higher contact forces (e.g.,270nN). This enhancement is a function of step orientation relative to the calcite lattice. Indentations near preexisting steps also locally enhance the step velocity. We present evidence that the higher dissolution rates are caused by stress-induced increases in the rate of double-kink nucleation.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A
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• v.29 no.6 s.237
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• pp.787-794
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• 2005

Nowadays chronic degenerative diseases such as arthritis are increasing rapidly, even though acute infectious diseases are decreasing due to the advance of modern medicine. Although many of remedies are developed for arthritis healing, there is no precise medical prescription, and pathogenesis is not examined exactly. In this study, we confirmed gene expression of BMP 1A, BMP 2B, osteonectin and MGP which are genes related with bone formation in osteoblast by using ultrasonic stimulation. Through this study, we also evaluated the fact that ultrasound could be applied to arthritis healing by making activated osteoblast induce remodeling of cartilage. As a result of this research, BMP 2B and MGP have higher rates of expression in specific ultrasound mode. In conclusion, it is expected that ultrasound could be used efficiently for healing arthritis if we use ultrasounds according to symptoms of arthritis on reasonable terms.

• Transactions of the Korean Society for Noise and Vibration Engineering
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.9-16
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• 2013

This paper experimentally deals with the excitation by functional electrical stimulus(FES) and the response of electromyo-potential at the muscles of antebrachial joint in a human body. The excitation of FES, which results in the contraction of the muscles and thus the flection of the joint, shows that the flection angle of the joint is proportional to the magnitude of the stimulus current. The response of electromyo-potential measured according to the FES shows the linearly-proportional relation between the joint torque and the electromyo-potential. The results can be used for active motion of joint rehabilitation.

• Advances in Energy Research
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• v.4 no.3
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• pp.239-253
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• 2016

Air quality in hospitals has always concerned hospitals' health officials due to its dangerous particles and gases. Because of the importance of air conditioning in the operating room, a system must be embedded in operating rooms to direct the contaminated air outside, and inject fresh filtered air from outside back into the room. In this study, laminar flow air conditioning system is implemented in the operating room by slot linear diffusers and with the help of air curtain. For this, stimulation Computational Fluid Dynamic (CFD) was used due to its efficiency. The aim of the present study was to find a proper solution to overcome the unfavorable factors, namely, contamination, humidity, and also temperature, velocity and pressure inside the room. These factors were implemented with different values and then stimulated through FLUENT software program. Results showed that the aforementioned factors can be overcome using air curtain and slot linear diffusers.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.177-190
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• 2003

Objective : This study was intended to investigate the analgesic effects of electroacupuncture(EA) on mechanical allodynia according to the frequency and intensity of EA. Also to know if mechanical allodynia and the analgesic effects of EA is related to the sympathetci nervous system and/or the purinergic system. Methods : mechanical allodynia-induced rats were produced by resecting S1-S2 nerve. The zusanli(ST36) was used for acupoint and the rats were divided into 4 groups. Each group was given different stimuli[low frequency low intensity-EA(LFLI-EA), low frequency high intensity-EA(LFHI-EA), high frequency low intensity-EA(LFHI-EA), high frequency high intensity-EA(HFHI-EA)]. Futhermore, to make sympathectomy6-OHDA and phentolamine were administered intraperitonially and the concentration of norepinephrine(NE) were measured. As a ATP blocker, suramin was applied for this study. Results : Comparing to control group, each of the 4 groups(LFLI-EA, LFHI-EA, HFLI-EA, HFHI-EA) showed a significant reduction of response frequency of mechanical allodynia. LFHI-EA was more effective than that of LFLI-EA. The LFHI-EA group also had longer lasting effects from the stimulation than the other groups. Sympathectomy didn't show any reduction of response frequency of mechanical allodynia.(Each n=6, n=4). Nor did both sympathectomy and ATP block. The response frequency wasn't reduced by sympathectomy or by sympathectomy and ATP block, but was significantly reduced with LFHI-EA Conclusions : These results suggest that EA has a significant analgesic effect on mechanical allodynia which has no connection with NE and/or ATP.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Nondestructive Testing
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.522-528
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• 2011

Artificial basilar membranes made of PVDF(polyvinylidene fluoride) are manufactured using microfabrication processes. The mechanical behavior of PVDF artificial basilar membrane was measured to evaluate its performance as a mechanical frequency analyzer using scanning LDV(laser Doppler vibrometer). The experimental setup consists of the microfabricated artificial basilar membrane, a loud speaker connected to an amplifier for generating acoustic pressure of specific spectral pattern, and a scanning LDV with controlling unit for measuring the displacement of the membrane on the incoming acoustic stimulation. The microfabricated artificial basilar membrane was attached tightly upon a package containing a chamber which can be filled with silicone oil before placed on the experimental setup stage. The experiment results showed that the microfabricated artificial basilar membrane has a property as a mechanical frequency analyzer.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.33-44
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• 2006

Background: Peripheral nerve injury leads to neuropathic pain, including mechanical hyperalgesia (MH). Nerve discharges produced by an injury to the primary afferents cause the release of glutamate from both central and peripheral terminals. While the role of centrally released glutamate in MH has been well studied, relatively little is known about its peripheral role. This study was carried out to determine if the peripherally conducting nerve impulses and peripheral glutamate receptors contribute to the generation of neuropathic pain. Methods: Rats that had previously received a left L5 dorsal rhizotomy were subjected to a spinal nerve lesion (SNL) or brief electrical stimulation (ES, 4 Hz pulses for 5 min) of the left L5 spinal nerve. The paw withdrawal threshold (PWT) to von Frey filaments was measured. The effects of an intraplantar (i.pl.) injection of a glutamate receptor (GluR) antagonist or agonist on the changes in the SNL- or ES-produced PWT was investigated. Results: SNL produced MH, as evidenced by decrease in the PWT, which lasted for more than 42 days. ES also produced MH lasting for 7 days. MK-801 (NMDAR antagonist), DL-AP3 (group-I mGluR antagonist), and APDC (group-II mGluR agonist) delayed the onset of MH when an i.pl. injection was given before SNL. The same application blocked the onset of ES-induced MH. NBQX (AMPA receptor antagonist) had no effect on either the SNL- or ES-induced onset of MH. When drugs were given after SNL or ES, MK-801 reversed the MH, whereas NBQX, DL-AP3, and APDC had no effect. Conclusions: Peripherally conducting impulses play an important role in the generation of neuropathic pain, which is mediated by the peripheral glutamate receptors.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.225-239
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• 1987

The effects of adenosine on the mechanical contractions and electrical activities were investigated in guinea-pig stomach. Spontaneous contractions of the antral region were recorded with force transducer, and the phasic contractions of fundic region were induced by electrical field stimulation. Electrical responses of smocth muscle cells were recored using glass capillary microelectrodes filled with 3M-KCl. Field stimulation was applied transmurally by using a pair of platinum wire (0.5 mm in diameter) placed on both sides of tissue. All experiments were performed in tris-buffered Tyrode solution which was aerated with 100% $O_2$ and kept at $35^{\circ}C$. The results obtained were as follows. 1) Adenosine suppressed the spontaneous contractions of antrum in a dose-dependent manner. 2) The inhibitory effect on antral spontaneous contractions was not influenced by the administration of guanethidine $(5{\times}10^{-6}\;M)$ and atropine $10^{-6}\;M$, or in the presence of dipyridamole $10^{-7}\;M$. 3) The phasic contractions of fundus induced by electrical field stimulation, which disappeared rapidly by the addition of tetrodotoxin $(3{\times}10^{-7}\;M)$, were potentiated by adenosine in the presence of guanethidine. 4) Adenosine decreased the amplitude and the maximum rate of rise of slow waves, and the increased amplitude and rate of rise evoked in the high calcium solution or in the presence of TEA were decreased by adenosine. 5) The non-adrenergic, non-cholinergic inhibitory junction potential (IJP) was inhibited by adenosine in the antral region, while the excitatory junction potential (EJP) in the fundic region was potentiated. From the above results, the following conclusions could be made. 1) Adenosine suppresses the spontaneous contractions of antrum strip by the decrease in amplitude and rate of rise of slow waves. 2) The release of neurotransmitter(s) from non-adrenergic, non-cholinergic nerve terminals is inhibited by adenosine.

• Coupled systems mechanics
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.315-327
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• 2016

Undergoing large volumetric changes upon incremental environmental stimulation, hydrogels are interesting materials which hold immense potentials for utilization in a wide array of applications in diverse industries. Owing to the large magnitudes of deformation it undergoes, swelling induced instability is a commonly observed sight in all types of gels. In this work, we investigate the instability of photo-thermal sensitive hydrogels, produced by impregnating light absorbing nano-particles into the polymer network of a temperature sensitive hydrogel, such as PNIPAM. Earlier works have shown that by using lights of different intensities, these hydrogels follow different swelling trends. We investigate the possibility of utilizing this fact for remote switching applications. The analysis is built on a thermodynamic framework of inhomogeneous large deformation of hydrogels and implemented via commercial finite element software, ABAQUS. Various examples of swelling induced instabilities, and its corresponding dependence on light intensity, will be investigated. We show that the instabilities that arise have their morphologies dependent on the light intensity.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Precision Engineering
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.153-159
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• 2010

Recently, it has been reported that mechanical stimulation takes a role in improving cell growth. Also, became generally known that skeletal system as bone or cartilage tissues take influence of compression loading. In this study, we fabricated a custom-made bioreactor and analyzed that conditions of compressive loading would influence cell growth. To compare the effect of intermittent compressive loading on cell-encapsulated agarose scaffold, we cultured preosteoblast cell (MC3T3-E1 cells) statically and dynamically. And dynamic culture conditions were produced by changing parameters such as the iteration time and interval delay time. Also, cellencapsulated agarose scaffold were subjected to 10 % dynamic compressive strain at 1㎐ frequency for 7 days. After cell culture, cell proliferation was assessed with PI stain assay for fluorescence images and flow cytometry (FACS).