• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.253-259
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• 2004

in this study, we developed a Monte Carlo imaging simulation code written by the visual C$\^$++/ programing language for design optimization of a digital X-ray imaging system. As a digital X-ray imaging system, we considered a Gd$_2$O$_2$S(Tb) scintillator and a photosensor array, and included a 2D parallel grid to simulate general test renditions. The interactions between X-ray beams and the system structure, the behavior of lights generated in the scintillator, and their collection in the photosensor array were simulated by using the Monte Carlo method. The scintillator thickness and the photosensor array pitch were assumed to 66$\mu\textrm{m}$ and 48$\mu\textrm{m}$, respertively, and the pixel format was set to 256 x 256. Using the code, we obtained X-ray images under various simulation conditions, and evaluated their image qualities through the calculations of SNR (signal-to-noise ratio), MTF (modulation transfer function), NPS (noise power spectrum), DQE (detective quantum efficiency). The image simulation code developed in this study can be applied effectively for a variety of digital X-ray imaging systems for their design optimization on various design parameters.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.63-72
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• 2008

With recent advancement of the medical imaging systems and picture archiving and communication system (PACS), installation of digital radiography has been accelerated over past few years. Moreover, Computed Radiography (CR) which was well established for the foundation of digital x-ray imaging systems at low cost was widely used for clinical applications. This study analyzes imaging characteristics for two systems with different pixel sizes through the Modulation Transfer Function (MTF), Noise Power Spectrum (NPS) and Detective Quantum Efficiency (DQE). In addition, influence of radiation dose to the imaging characteristics was also measured by quantitative assessment. A standard beam quality RQA5 based on an international electro-technical commission (IEC) standard was used to perform the x-ray imaging studies. For the results, the spatial resolution based on MTF at 10% for Agfa CR system with I.P size of $8{\times}10$ inches and $14{\times}17$ inches was measured as 3.9 cycles/mm and 2.8 cycles/mm, respectively. The spatial resolution based on MTF at 10% for Fuji CR system with I.P size of $8{\times}10$ inches and $14{\times}17$ inches was measured as 3.4 cycles/mm and 3.2 cycles/mm, respectively. There was difference in the spatial resolution for $14{\times}17$ inches, although radiation dose does not effect to the MTF. The NPS of the Agfa CR system shows similar results for different pixel size between $100{\mu}m$ for $8{\times}10$ inch I.P and $150{\mu}m$ for $14{\times}17$ inch I.P. For both systems, the results show better NPS for increased radiation dose due to increasing number of photons. DQE of the Agfa CR system for $8{\times}10$ inch I.P and $14{\times}17$ inch I.P resulted in 11% and 8.8% at 1.5 cycles/mm, respectively. Both systems show that the higher level of radiation dose would lead to the worse DQE efficiency. Measuring DQE for multiple factors of imaging characteristics plays very important role in determining efficiency of equipment and reducing radiation dose for the patients. In conclusion, the results of this study could be used as a baseline to optimize imaging systems and their imaging characteristics by measuring MTF, NPS, and DQE for different level of radiation dose.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.44 no.5
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• pp.621-627
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• 2012

Assessment was made of the effects of Aralia cordata Thunb (DH) on the cell proliferation, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) mRNA gene expression and nitric oxide (NO) production in RAW 264.7 macrophage cells. For the screening of anti-inflammatory activities, ethanolic extracts of 55 species of traditional herbal medicines were examined for inhibitory effects, and it was confirmed that DH possessed inhibitory effects on NO production. As a result, DH significantly decreased the production of NO and iNOS gene expression at a concentration of $250{\mu}g/mL$. The chloroformsoluble fractionates have the strongest No synthesis inhibitory effect. It is presumed that the inhibition of NO production in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells by DH components occurred via the modulation of iNOS and DH, and that the active compound from DH may be useful for therapeutic management of inflammatory-associate diseases.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.15 no.7
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• pp.289-299
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• 2015

The purpose of this study is to evaluate and compare the quality of digital X-ray imaging system. The image quality evaluation was conducted By using Modulation transfer function indicating the quantitative resolution of the image and the noise power spectrum showing the noise characteristics. Using a IEC61267 radiation quality was applied to the geometry to be used in clinical and geometry presented in IEC62220-1 and Additional filter, grid, the clinical dose and the MTF value of edge phantom was measured. Result of the MTF corresponding to each item(Grid, Filter, SID, kVp, mAs), the clinical condition 100cm, 180cm, measurements of the spatial frequency of the MTF IEC62220-1Geometry 150cm became similarly apparent, rather spatial frequency was also the case high in clinical conditions 100cm. NPS results, as the dose(mAs) is increased, NPS showed that reduced. The image quality evaluation using IEC61267 the Radiation quality, Image quality of the video using the clinical conditions Geometry than image quality evaluation using IEC62220-1Geometry was better. It shows that MTF and NPC in IEC and clinical condition were not significantly different. In order to apply the evaluation method of image quality applied with clinical conditions rather than the future method, to be presented evaluation of IEC standard, based on the results of the image characterization studies in this paper, the methods that shows good quality of spatial resolution and decrease NPS value as the least dose, used suitable parameters for whether or not using added filter, grid, change SID and clinical quality(kVp), dose(mAs) etc should be found. then It is believed to be able to properly maintain the actual quality of the image of the digital radiographic imaging system in clinical.

• The Journal of Korean Institute of Electromagnetic Engineering and Science
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• v.17 no.2 s.105
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• pp.139-147
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• 2006

This paper suggests an efficient method of protection ratio calculation and shows some results applicable to frequency coordination in microwave(M/W) relay system networks, and the net filter discrimination(NFD) associated with Tx spectrum mask and overall Rx filter characteristics has been examined to obtain the adjacent channel protection ratio. The protection ratio comprises several factors such as C/N of modulation scheme, noise-to-interference ratio, multiple interference allowance, fade margins of multi-path and rain attenuation, and NFD. According to computed results for 6.7 GHz, 64-QAM, and 60 km at BER $10^{-6}$, fade margin and co-channel protection ratio are 41.1 and 75.2 dB, respectively. NFD for channel bandwidth of 40 MHz reveals 28.9 dB at the first adjacent channel, which results in adjacent channel protection ratio of 46.3 dB. In addition, NFD and protection ratio for different systems with channel bandwidth 20 and 40 MHz have been investigated to be used for actual M/W networks. The proposed method provides some merits of an easy calculation, systematic extension, and applying the same concept to frequency coordination in millimeter wave relay system networks.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.239-245
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• 2010

The purpose of this study is to comprehensively compare and evaluate the characteristics of image quality for digital mammography systems which use a direct and indirect conversion detector. Three key metrics of image quality were evaluated for the direct and indirect conversion detector, the modulation transfer function (MTF), normalized noise power spectrum (NNPS), and detective quantum efficiency (DQE), which describe the resolution, noise, and signal to noise performance, respectively. DQE was calculated by using a edge phantom for MTF determination according to IEC 62220-1-2 regulation. The contrast to noise ratio (CNR) was evaluated according to guidelines offered by the Korean Institute for Accreditation of Medical Image (KIAMI). As a result, the higher MTF and DQE was measured with direct conversion detector compared to indirect conversion detector all over spatial frequency. When the average glandular dose (AGD) was the same, direct conversion detector showed higher CNR value. The direct conversion detector which has higher DQE value all over spatial frequency would provide the potential benefits for both improved image quality and lower patient dose in digital mammography system.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.51 no.2
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• pp.129-135
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• 2008

Berberine is an isoquinoline alkaloid used in traditional Chinese medicine and has been isolated from a variety of plants, such as Coptis chinensis and Phellodendron amurense. It has a wide spectrum of clinical applications such as in anti-tumor, anti-microbial, and anti-inflammatory activities. However, it is still unknown that berberine related with reactive oxygen species (ROS)-mediated apoptosis pathway in human hepatoma HepG2 cells. In the present study, we are examined the molecular mechanism of ROS- and p38 MAP kinase-mediated apoptosis by berberine in HepG2 cells. Berberine increased cytotoxicity effects by time- and does-dependent manner. $LD_{50}$ was detected 50 ${\mu}M$ at 48h of exposure to berberine. Nuclei cleavage and apoptotic DNA fragmentation were observed in cells treated with 50 ${\mu}M$ of berberine for 48h. Moreover, berberine induced the activating of caspase-3, p53, p38 and Bax expression, whereas the expression of anti-apoptotic signaling pathways, Bcl-2, was decreased. Additionally, berberine-treated cells had an increased level of generation of ROS and nitric oxide (NO). These results indicated that berberine induces apoptosis of HepG2 cells may be mediated oxidative injury acts as an early and upstream change, triggers mitochondrial dysfunction, Bcl-2 and Bax modulation, p38 and p53 activation, caspase-3 activation, and consequent leading to apoptosis.

• Korean Journal of Optics and Photonics
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.223-230
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• 2020

In this paper, we have studied the characteristics of stimulated Brillouin scattering (SBS) and mode instability (MI) in a ytterbium-doped polarization-maintaining fiber laser with master oscillator power amplifier configuration. We measured the laser output power and back-reflection spectrum for a variety of ytterbium-doped fibers and seed lights, to investigate the power-scaling limits of fiber lasers. By optimizing the laser structure, we demonstrated an all-fiber high-power polarization-maintaining fiber laser with near-diffraction-limited beam quality. The output power of 1.5 kW was achieved with a linewidth of 10 GHz, generated by pseudo-random binary sequence (PRBS) phase modulation. The beam quality M² was about 1.15 at the maximum output power. The polarization extinction ratio (PER) was greater than 17 dB.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.42 no.8
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• pp.1167-1174
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• 2013

Cancer cells exhibit increased demand for glutamine-derived carbons to support anabolic processes. Indeed, the spectrum of glutamine-dependent tumors and the mechanisms through which glutamine supports cancer metabolism remain areas of active investigation. In the present study, we investigated the effects of glutamine deprivation on the correlation between tightening of tight junctions (TJs) and anti-invasive activity in human prostate carcinoma LnCap cells. Glutamine deprivation markedly inhibited cell motility and invasiveness in a time-dependent manner. The anti-invasive activity of glutamine deprivation was associated with an increased tightness of the TJ, which was demonstrated by an increase in transepithelial electrical resistance (TER). The activities of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and MMP-9 were inhibited in a time-dependent fashion by glutamine deprivation, which was correlated with a decrease in expression of their mRNA and proteins and up-regulation of tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs) expression. Furthermore, glutamine deprivation repressed the levels of the claudin family members, which are major components of TJs that play a key role in the control and selectivity of paracellular transport. Moreover, the levels of E-cadherin, a type I transmembrane glycoprotein, and snail, an epithelial to mesenchymal transition regulator and zinc finger transcription factor, were markedly modulated by glutamine deprivation. Taken together, these findings suggest that TJs and MMPs are critical targets of glutamine deprivation-induced anti-invasion in human prostate carcinoma LnCap cells.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Information and Commucation Sciences Conference
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• 2007.10a
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• pp.693-697
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• 2007

The SSB modem performs the modulation process which converts the digital voltage level to the audible frequency band signal and the demodulation process which converts reversely the audible frequency signal to the digital voltage level. The modulator and the demodulator are implemented with a single DSP chip. Because of the SSB specific character, the distortion occurs when the frequency is changed. This distortion has no effect on voice communication, but it has an significant effect on data communication. In other words, it is impossible to send data stream with adjacent 2 periods. Therefore, in case of using 2-tone FSK, it is needed to send at least 3 periods to transmit 1 bit. Therefore we implemented the modem using modified phase-delay shift keying to transmit 1 tone signal for high speed transmission. In the 1200[bps] mode, it generates 0, $187{\mu}s$ delay time at 1.3kHz symbol frequency, and in the 2400[bps] mode, 0, $70{\mu}s$, $130{\mu}s$, $200{\mu}s$ delay time at 1.5kHz symbol frequency. Finally, in the maximum 3600[bps] mode, it generates 0, $100{\mu}s$, $160{\mu}s$, $250{\mu}s$ delay time at 2.0kHz symbol frequency. The measured results of the implemented SSB modem shows a good transfer functional characteristic by spectrum analyzer, almost same bandwidth in pass band and 20dB higher SNR comparing the German PACTOR and American CLOVER and in the experimental transmitting test, we verified the transmitted data is received correctly in platform.