• Transactions on Control, Automation and Systems Engineering
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• v.4 no.3
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• pp.224-230
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• 2002

In this paper, a counting algorithm hybridized with an adaptive automatic thresholding method based on Otsu's method and the algorithm that elongates markers obtained by the well-known watershed algorithm is proposed to enhance the exactness of the microcell counting in microscopic images. The proposed counting algorithm can be stated as follows. The transformed full image captured by CCD camera set up at microscope is divided into cropped images of m$\times$n blocks with an appropriate size. The thresholding value of the cropped image is obtained by Otsu's method and the image is transformed into binary image. The microbial cell images below prespecified pixels are regarded as noise and are removed in tile binary image. The smoothing procedure is done by the area opening and the morphological filter. Watershed algorithm and the elongating marker algorithm are applied. By repeating the above stated procedure for m$\times$n blocks, the m$\times$n segmented images are obtained. A superposed image with the size of 640$\times$480 pixels as same as original image is obtained from the m$\times$n segmented block images. By labeling the superposed image, the counting result on the image of microbial cells is achieved. To prove the effectiveness of the proposed mettled in counting the microbial cell on the image, we used Acinetobacter sp., a kind of ammonia-oxidizing bacteria, and compared the proposed method with the global Otsu's method the traditional watershed algorithm based on global thresholding value and human visual method. The result counted by the proposed method shows more approximated result to the human visual counting method than the result counted by any other method.

• The Journal of the Korea institute of electronic communication sciences
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.296-303
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• 2011

This paper describes a game called the "robot hopscotch game" which uses mobile robots. In this game, a mobile robot moves on a board which consists of a number of square cells. This is similar to the usual hopscotch game in which a human player hops through a course on the ground. In the robot hopscotch game, each cell has a visual light communication unit. The unit sends identification signal and the robot which moves over the cell receives the signal for location recognition. In the game, a human player or a human operator competes with a robot or other human player on how accurately and fast they move to a goal location passing through the given way point cells. People played the game at the RoboWorld 2008 which was held at COEX Seoul, on 16th to 20th of October 2008. The replies to the questionnaire to the users show that users have interests on the game and expect further expansion of robot use though they are not in favor of the robot's outlook and they feel inconvenience on manipulation of the robot.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.93-102
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• 2018

Discoidin domain receptor 1 (DDR1) is involved in tumorigenesis and angiogenesis. However, its role in lymphangiogenesis has been unknown. Here, we tested whether downregulation of DDR1 expression by miR-199a/b can suppress lymphangiogenesis. We also aimed to identify miRNA target site(s) in the 3' untranslated region (UTR) of DDR1. Transfection with miR-199a/b-5p mimics reduced expression of DDR1 and tube formation in primary human dermal lymphatic endothelial cells, whereas miR-199a/b-5p inhibitors showed the opposite effects. Critically, injection of miR-199a/b-5p mimics suppressed DDR1 expression and lymphangiogenesis in a corneal alkali-burn rat model. The three well-conserved seed matched sites for miR-199a/b-5p in the DDR1 3'-UTR were targeted, and miRNA binding to at least two sites was required for DDR1 inhibition. Our data suggest that DDR1 promotes enhanced lymphangiogenesis during eye injury, and miR-199a/b-5p suppresses this activity by inhibiting DDR1 expression. Thus, this miRNA may be useful for the treatment of lymphangiogenesis-related eye diseases.

• Science of Emotion and Sensibility
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.47-62
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• 2020

The snake detection theory posits that, due to competition with snakes, the primate visual system has been evolved to detect camouflaged snakes. Specifically, one of its hypotheses states that the subcortical visual pathway mainly consisting of koniocellular cells enables humans to automatically detect the threat of snakes without consuming mental resources. Here we tested the hypothesis by comparing human participants' responses to snakes with those to fearful faces and flowers. Participants viewed either original images or converted ones, which lacked the differences in color, luminance, contrast, and spatial frequency energies between categories. While participants in Experiment 1 produced valence and arousal ratings to each image, those in Experiment 2 detected target images in the breaking continuous flash suppression (bCFS) paradigm. As a result, visual factors influenced the responses to snakes most strongly. After minimizing visual differences, snakes were rated as being less negative and less arousing, and detected more slowly from suppression. In contrast, the images of the other categories were less affected by image conversion. In particular, fearful faces were rated as greater threats and detected more quickly than other categories. In addition, for snakes, changes in arousal ratings and those in bCFS response times were negatively correlated: Those snake images, the arousal ratings of which decreased, produced increased detection latency. These findings suggest that the influence of snakes on human responses to threat is limited relative to fearful faces, and that detection responses in bCFS share common processing mechanisms with conscious ratings. In conclusion, the current study calls into question the assumption that snake detection in humans is a product of unconscious subcortical visual processing.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.15 no.3 s.70
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• pp.344-351
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• 2005

Nitric oxide (NO) and calcium-binding proteins occur in various types of cells in the central nervous system. They are important signaling and calcium buffering molecules, respectively. In the present study, using immunocytochemistry we examined the distribution and the co-localization pattern of neurons containing neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) and parvalbumin in the visual cortex of hamster. The overall number of parvalbumin-immunoreactive (IR) neurons was 17 times higher than that of the nNOS-IR neurons in the hamster visual cortex. The highest differences were found in layer V, where parvalbumin-IR neurons were 54.7 times more abundant than nNOS-IR neurons. Many nNOS- and parvalbumin-IR neurons were similar in size, shape, and manner of distribution in the visual cortex. However, two-color immunofluorescence revealed that no neurons in the hamster visual cortex expressed both nNOS and parvalbumin. The present results indicate that there are subtle species differences in the co-localization pattern between nNOS and calcium-binding proteins. The present results also suggest not only the heterogeneity and functional diversity of nNOS-IRneurons in the visual cortex, but also the importance of understanding animal diversity

• 한국태양에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2008.04a
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• pp.117-122
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• 2008

The apartment will be much more convenient than the other one in the application of green technologies, providing the merits by mass production. For example, pre-manufactured building materials can be effectively adapted to the formation of buildings. Recently, the form of double-enveloped window system has been developed for the purposed of minimizing energy loss occurred around windows. On the other hand, the expansion of balcony area was legalized and thus, a visual buffer area does not exist any more. All-glass window wall on apartment houses without a balcony produces pretty harmful area with direct sunbeam. A various types of glass can be applied to the window system and it plays a critical role in the determination of inner visual environment. For the purpose of verifying the potential of its daylighting, a mock-up model has been constructed and tested. The refurbished version of conventional window shows its illuminated characteristics. Clear and Low-e glass have been adapted for window area and daylighting ratio has been compared in both test cells.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.451-457
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• 1999

Ultrastructure of adult Drosophila ocellus was compared with conventional electron microscopic method and osmium impregnation. When osmium impregnation was applied, some organelles of cells were strongly stained. Especially, subrhabdomeric cisternae (SRC) were strongly stained and showed network-iike structure as in compound eye. Other organelles including SSC, ER, nuclear envelope, pigment granules and mitochondria were also strongly stained. These organelles are known as a general calcium ion reservoir. In conclusion, the strong effect of light and shade by osmium impregnation was regarded as a result of strong binding between calcium ion and osmium tetroxide. Thus, we agree to the opinion that osmium impregnation is very useful methods to the comparative morphology of cell organelles.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.192-196
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• 2006

Salt tolerance was evaluated at the young seedling stage of rice (Oryza sativa L.) using recombinant inbred lines (MG RILs) from a cross between Milyang 23 (japonica/indica) and Gihobyeo (japonica). 22 of 164 MG RILs were classified as tolerant with visual scores of 3.5-5.0 in 0.7% NaCl. Interval mapping of QTLs related to salt tolerance was conducted on the basis of the visual scores at the young seedling stage. Two QTLs, qST1 and qST3, conferring salt tolerance, were detected on chromosome 1 and 3, respectively, and the total phenotypic variance explained by the two QTLs was 36.9% in the MG RIL population. qST1 was the major QTL explaining 27.8% of the total phenotypic variation. qST1 was flanked by Est12~RZ569A, and qST3 was flanked by RG179~RZ596. The detection of new QTLs associated with salt tolerance will provide important information for the functional analysis of rice salt tolerance.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.189-198
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• 2006

Purpose: To investigate the in vitro response of MC3T3-E1 osteoblastic cells to X-ray in the presence and absence of 2 deoxy-D-glucose (2-DG) and quercetin (QCT). Materials and Methods: The MC3T3-E1 cells were cultured in an ${\alpha}-MEM$ supplemented with 5 mM 2-DG or $10{\mu}M$ QCT and then the cells were incubated for 12 h prior to irradiation with 2, 4, 6, and 8Gy using a linear accelerator (Mevaprimus, Germany) delivered at a rate of 1.5 Gy/min. At various times after the irradiation, the cells were processed for the analyses of proliferation, viability, cytotoxicity, and mineralization. Results: Exposure of the cells to X-ray inhibited the tritium incorporation, 3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2yl-)-2, 5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT)-reducing activity, and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, and caused cytotoxicity and apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner of the X-ray. This effect was further apparent on day 3 and 7 after the irradiation. RA+2-DG showed the decrease of DNA content, cell viability, and increase of cytotoxicity rather than RA. ALP activity increased on day 7 and subsequently its activity dropped to a lower level. 2-DG suppressed the calcium concentration, but visual difference of number of calcified nodules between RA and RA+2-DG was not noticed. RA+QCT showed the increase of DNA content, cell viability, but decrease of cytotoxicity and subG1 stage cells in the cell cycle, and increased calcified nodules in von Kossa staining rather than the RA. ALP activity showed significant increases on day 7 and subsequently its activity dropped to a lower level. Conclusion: The results showed that the 2-DG acted as a radiosensitizing agent and QCT acted as a radiosensitizing agent respectively in the irradiated MC3T3-E1 osteoblast-like cells.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.6
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• pp.2327-2331
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• 2015

Purpose: To determine the accuracy of visual inspection with acetic acid (VIA) in detecting high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) in pre- and post-menopausal women with atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASC-US) and low grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (LSIL) Papanicolaou (Pap) smears. Materials and Methods: Two hundred women (150 pre-menopausal and 50 post-menopausal) with ASC-US and LSIL cytology who attended the colposcopy clinic, Thammasat University Hospital, between March 2013 and August 2014 were included. All women underwent VIA testing and colposcopy by gynecologic oncologists. Diagnostic values of VIA testing including sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) for detecting high-grade CIN were determined using the histopathology obtained from colposcopic-directed biopsy as a gold standard. Results: VIA testing was positive in 54/150 (36%) pre-menopausal women and 5/50 (10%) post-menopausal women. Out of 54 pre-menopausal women with positive VIA testing, 15 (27.8%) had high-grade CIN and 39 (72.2%) had either CIN 1 or insignificant pathology. Ten (10.4%), 43 (44.8%) and 43 (44.8%) out of the remaining 96 pre-menopausal women with negative VIA testing had high-grade CIN, CIN 1 and insignificant pathology, respectively. Out of 5 post-menopausal women with positive VIA testing, there were 4 (80%) women with high-grade CIN, and 1 (20%) women with insignificant pathology. Out of 45 VIA-negative post-menopausal women, 42 (93.3%) women had CIN 1 and insignificant pathology, and 3 (6.7%) had high-grade CIN. Sensitivity, specificity, PPV and NPV of the VIA testing were 59.4%, 76.2%, 32.2% and 90.8%, respectively (60%, 68.8%, 27.8% and 89.6% in pre-menopausal women and 57.1%, 97.7%, 80% and 93.3% in post-menopausal women). Conclusions: VIA testing may be used as a screening tool for detecting high-grade CIN in women with minor cervical cytological abnormalities in a low-resource setting in order to lower the rate of colposcopy referral.