• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• 제22권7호
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• pp.1185-1193
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• 2021

Objective: Clear cell sarcoma of the kidney (CCSK) is the second-most common but extremely rare primary renal malignancy in children after Wilms' tumor. The aims of this study were to evaluate the imaging features that could distinguish between CCSK and Wilms' tumor and to assess the features with diagnostic value for identifying CCSK. Materials and Methods: We reviewed the initial contrast-enhanced abdominal-pelvic CT scans of children with CCSK and Wilms' tumor between 2010 to 2019. Fifty-eight children (32 males and 26 females; age, 0.3-10 years), 7 with CCSK, and 51 with Wilms' tumor, were included. The maximum tumor diameter, presence of engorged perinephric vessels, maximum density of the tumor (Tmax) of the enhancing solid portion, paraspinal muscle, contralateral renal vein density, and density ratios (Tmax/muscle and Tmax/vein) were analyzed on the renal parenchymal phase of contrast-enhanced CT. Fisher's exact tests and Mann-Whitney U tests were conducted to analyze the categorical and continuous variables, respectively. Logistic regression and receiver operating characteristic curve analyses were also performed. Results: The age, sex, and tumor diameter did not differ between the two groups. Engorged perinephric vessels were more common in patients in the CCSK group (71% [5/7] vs. 16% [8/51], p = 0.005). Tmax (median, 148.0 vs. 111.0 Hounsfield unit, p = 0.004), Tmax/muscle (median, 2.64 vs. 1.67, p = 0.002), and Tmax/vein (median, 0.94 vs. 0.59, p = 0.002) were higher in the CCSK compared to the Wilms' group. Multiple logistic regression revealed that engorged vessels (odds ratio 13.615; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.770-104.730) and Tmax/muscle (odds ratio 5.881; 95% CI, 1.337-25.871) were significant predictors of CCSK. The cutoff values of Tmax/muscle (86% sensitivity, 77% specificity) and Tmax/vein (71% sensitivity, 86% specificity) for the diagnosis of CCSK were 1.97 and 0.76, respectively. Conclusion: Perinephric vessel engorgement and greater tumor enhancement (Tmax/muscle > 1.97 or Tmax/vein > 0.76) are helpful for differentiating between CCSK and Wilms' tumor in children aged below 10 years.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제28권3호
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• pp.482-490
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• 2018

Candida albicans infections are often problematic to treat owing to antifungal resistance, as such infections are mostly associated with biofilms. The ability of C. albicans to switch from a budding yeast to filamentous hyphae and to adhere to host cells or various surfaces supports biofilm formation. Previously, the ethanol extract from Paeonia lactiflora was reported to inhibit cell wall synthesis and cause depolarization and permeabilization of the cell membrane in C. albicans. In this study, the P. lactiflora extract was found to significantly reduce the initial stage of C. albicans biofilms from 12 clinical isolates by 38.4%. Thus, to assess the action mechanism, the effect of the P. lactiflora extract on the adhesion of C. albicans cells to polystyrene and germ tube formation was investigated using a microscopic analysis. The density of the adherent cells was diminished following incubation with the P. lactiflora extract in an acidic medium. Additionally, the P. lactiflora-treated C. albicans cells were mostly composed of less virulent pseudohyphae, and ruptured debris was found in the serum-containing medium. A quantitative real-time PCR analysis indicated that P. lactiflora downregulated the expression of C. albicans hypha-specific genes: ALS3 by 65% (p = 0.004), ECE1 by 34.9% (p = 0.001), HWP1 by 29.2% (p = 0.002), and SAP1 by 37.5% (p = 0.001), matching the microscopic analysis of the P. lactiflora action on biofilm formation. Therefore, the current findings demonstrate that the P. lactiflora ethanol extract is effective in inhibiting C. albicans biofilms in vitro, suggesting its therapeutic potential for the treatment of biofilm-associated infections.

• 한국수소및신에너지학회논문집
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• 제19권5호
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• pp.403-409
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• 2008

Polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) is very interesting power source due to high power density, simple construction and operation at low temperature. But it has problems such as high cost, improvement of performance, effect of temperature and initial start at low temperature. These problems can be approached to be solved by using experiment and mathematical method which are general principles for analysis and optimization of control system for heat and hydrogen detecting management. In this paper, insulation vessel and control system for stable operation of fuel cell at low temperature were developed for experiment. The constant temperature capability and the heating time at sub-zero temperatures with insulation control system were studied by using a heating bar of 60W class. PEMFC stack which was made by 4 cells with $50\;mc^2$ active area in each cell is a thermal source. Times which take to reach constant temperature by the state of insulation vacuum were measured at variable environment temperatures. The test was performed at two conditions: heating mode and cooling mode. Constant temperature capability was better at lower environment temperature and vacuum pressure. The results of this experiment could be used as basis data about stable operation of fuel cell stack in low temperature zone.

• 정보처리학회논문지A
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• 제14A권3호
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• pp.133-140
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• 2007

SWBF(shrink-wrapped boundary face) 알고리즘은 조직되지 않은 3차원 측정점으로부터 표면을 재구성하기 위해 최근에 제안된 방법이다. 본 논문에서는 SWBF 알고리즘의 표면 중복문제를 제기하고, 이를 해결하기 위한 개선된 표면 재구성 방법을 제안한다. 제안된 방법은 경계셀이 아닌 모든 셀들을 내부셀과 외부셀로 구분하고, 개선된 경계면의 정의를 이용해 초기메쉬에서 표면의 중복이 발생하지 않도록 하였다. 또한, 측정 방향에 따라 표면 샘플링의 조밀도가 차이가 나는 일반적인 3차원 스캐너로부터 추출된 데이터의 처리를 위해 셀 영상에서 2차원 연결성을 정의하여 사용하였다. 실험을 통해 제안된 방법이 SWBF 알고리즘의 표면중복문제를 극복하는데 매우 유용함을 알 수 있었다.

• 한국분말재료학회지
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• 제23권2호
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• pp.136-142
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• 2016

As precursors of cathode materials for lithium ion batteries, $Ni_{1/3}Co_{1/3}Mn_{1/3}(OH)_2$ powders are prepared in a continuously stirred tank reactor via a co-precipitation reaction between aqueous metal sulfates and NaOH in the presence of $NH_4OH$ in air or nitrogen ambient. Calcination of the precursors with $Li_2CO_3$ for 8 h at $1,000^{\circ}C$ in air produces dense spherical cathode materials. The precursors and final powders are characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy, particle size analysis, tap density measurement, and thermal gravimetric analysis. The precursor powders obtained in air or nitrogen ambient show XRD patterns identified as $Ni_{1/3}Co_{1/3}Mn_{1/3}(OH)_2$. Regardless of the atmosphere, the final powders exhibit the XRD patterns of $LiNi_{1/3}Co_{1/3}Mn_{1/3}O_2$ (NCM). The precursor powders obtained in air have larger particle size and lower tap density than those obtained in nitrogen ambient. NCM powders show similar tendencies in terms of particle size and tap density. Electrochemical characterization is performed after fabricating a coin cell using NCM as the cathode and Li metal as the anode. The NCM powders from the precursors obtained in air and those from the precursors obtained in nitrogen have similar initial charge/discharge capacities and cycle life. In conclusion, the powders co-precipitated in air can be utilized as precursor materials, replacing those synthesized in the presence of nitrogen injection, which is the usual industrial practice.

• 대한전자공학회논문지SD
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• 제43권6호
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• pp.23-29
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• 2006

본 논문에서는 Quadratic Programming(QP)을 이용한 효과적인 광역배치 기법을 제안한다. QP를 이용한 배치 기법의 단점인 셀 밀집 문제를 해결하기 위해 추가적인 힘(additional force)과 Grid Pre-warping 기법을 사용하였다 추가적인 힘은 밀집도에 기반한 값으로 적절한 힘을 구하기 위해 새로운 밀집도 함수를 고안하였다. Grid Pre-warping은 셀 좌표 사이의 상대적인 순서에 따라 셀들을 전체 영역에 재배치하는 기법이다. 새로운 밀집도 함수를 통해 구해진 추가적인 힘과 Pre-warping 기법을 반복적으로 적용하여 셀들이 효과적으로 분산된 광역배치를 얻었다. 이렇게 얻어진 배치를 "middle-down" 방식의 배치기인 Mongre의 초기배치로 적용하여 최종 상세배치 결과를 얻었다 제안하는 기법을 적용한 실험결과, FM 기법을 이용한 광역배치에 비해 향상된 결과를 보였으며, 우수한 배치기로 알려진 FengShui, Dragon과도 비교할만한 결과를 얻었다.

• 한국표면공학회지
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• 제47권5호
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• pp.227-232
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• 2014

In this study, we propose the application of doping process technology for atmospheric pressure plasma. The plasma treatment means the wafer is warmed via resistance heating from current paths. These paths are induced by the surface charge density in the presence of illuminating Argon atmospheric plasmas. Furthermore, it is investigated on the high-concentration doping to a selective partial region in P type solar cell wafer. It is identified that diffusion of impurities is related to the wafer temperature. For the fixed plasma treatment time, plasma currents were set with 40, 70, 120 mA. For the processing time, IR(Infra-Red) images are analyzed via a camera dependent on the temperature of the P type wafer. Phosphorus concentrations are also analyzed through SIMS profiles from doped wafer. According to the analysis for doping process, as applied plasma currents increase, so the doping depth becomes deeper. As the junction depth is deeper, so the surface resistance is to be lowered. In addition, the surface charge density has a tendency inversely proportional to the initial phosphorus concentration. Overall, when the plasma current increases, then it becomes higher temperatures in wafer. It is shown that the diffusion of the impurity is critically dependent on the temperature of wafers.

• 한국해양학회지:바다
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• 제15권1호
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• pp.8-15
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• 2010

해수의 용존 이산화탄소 증가가 해양미생물인 Vibrio fischeri의 발광량 및 세포밀도에 미치는 영향을 규명하고자 380(대조구), 1,000, 3,000, 10,000 그리고 30,000 ppm 농도구배에 24시간 동안 노출하고, 매 6시간마다 발광미생물의 발광량과 세포밀도 변화를 측정하였다. 5개 농도구배에 노출된 발광미생물의 발광량은 12시간째에 3,000 ppm 이상의 농도구배에서 대조구와 비교하여 발광량이 유의하게 감소하는 경향을 보였다. 하지만 24시간째에는 30,000 ppm 농도 조건에서만 대조구와 유의한 차이를 보였으며, 10,000 ppm 이하 농도 조건에서는 차이를 보이지 않았다. 발광미생물의 세포밀도는 분광광도계를 이용하여 흡광도를 측정하였고, 각 농도별 시간에 따른 영향은 발광량 변화와 유사하였다. 용존 이산화탄소 농도 변화와 발광미생물의 발광량 및 세포밀도 사이에는 유의한 농도-반응 관계가 있으며, 다만 상대적으로 짧은 시간에 발생하는 저해영향으로 배양이 지속됨에 따라 뚜렷하게 회복하는 특성을 보여 증가된 농도의 이산화탄소 영향이 항상 일정하지 않음을 보여주었다. 본 연구는 해양미생울 개체군 성장에 미치는 이산화탄소의 영향을 평가한 것으로 향후 해수의 용존 이산화탄소 농도 증가가 미치는 다양한 해양생물에 대한 영향 및 위해성 예측과 평가에 활용될 수 있을 것으로 기대한다. 또한 해양미생물에 대한 생태영향평가 결과는 이산화탄소 저감을 위해 추진되고 있는 해양 지중저장사업의 환경위해성평가에도 활용될 수 있을 것이다.

• 한국환경복원기술학회지
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• 제5권6호
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• pp.24-29
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• 2002

Nitrate removal rate in three cattail wetland cells was investigated. They were a part of a pond-wetland system for stream water treatment demonstration. The system was composed of two ponds and six wetland cells. The acreage of each cell was approximately $150m^2$. The earth works for the system were finished from April 2000 to May 2000 and cattails were planted in the three cells in June 2000. Waters of Sinyang Stream flowing into Kohung Estuarine Lake were pumped into a primary pond, whose effluent was discharged into a secondary pond. The reservoir was formed by a tidal marsh reclamation project and located in southern coastal area of Korean Peninsula. Effluents from the secondary pond were funneled into the three cells. Volumes and water quality of inflow and outflow were analyzed from July 2000 through January 2001. Inflow and outflow averaged $20.2m^3/day$ and $19.8m^3/day$, respectively. Hydraulic retention time was about 1.6 days. Average influent and effluent nitrate concentration was $1.98mg/{\ell}$, $1.38mg/{\ell}$, respectively. Nitrate removal rate averaged $82.6mg\;m^{-2}\;day^{-1}$. Seasonal changes of nitrate retention rates were closely related to those of wetland cell temperatures. The average nitrate removal rate in the cells was a little lower, compared with that of $125.0mg\;m^{-2}\;day^{-1}$ for the wetlands operating in North America. This could be attributed to the initial stage of the cells and inclusion of three cold months into the seven-month study period. Root rhizosphere in wetland soils and litter-soil layers on cell bottoms could not developed. Increase of standing density of cattails within a few years will establish both root zones suitable for the nitrification of ammonia to nitrates and substrates beneficial to the denitrification of nitrates into nitrogen gases, which may lead to increase of the nitrate retention rate.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• 제34권12호
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• pp.3715-3721
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• 2013

In this study, the behavior of cells on the modified surface, and the correlation between the modified substrates and the response of cells is described. A close-packed layer of nano-sized silica beads was prepared on a coverslip, and the adhesion, proliferation, and migration of BALB/3T3 fibroblast cells on the silica layer was monitered. The 550 nm silica beads were synthesized by the hydrolysis and condensation reaction of tetraethylorthosilicate in basic solution. The amine groups were introduced onto the surfaces of silica particles by treatment with 3-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane. The close-packed layer of silica beads on the coverslip was obtained by the reaction of the amine-functionalized silica beads and the (3-triethoxysilyl)propylsuccinic anhydride treated coverslip. BALB/3T3 fibroblast cells were loaded on bare glass, APTMS coated glass, and silica bead coated glass with the same initial cell density, and the migration and proliferation of cells on the substrates was investigated. The cells were fixed and stained with antibodies in order to analyze the changes in the actin filaments and nuclei after culture on the different surfaces. The motility of cells on the silica bead coated glass was greater than that of the cells cultured on the control substrate. The growth rate of cells on the silica bead coated glass was slower than that of the control. Because the close-packed layer of silica beads gave an embossed surface, the adhesion of cells was very weak compared to the smooth surfaces. These results indicate that the adhesion of cells on the substrates is very important, and the actin filaments might play key roles in the migration and proliferation of cells. The nuclei of the cells were shrunk on the weakly adhered surfaces, and the S1 stage in which DNA is duplicated in the cell dividing processes might be retarded. As a result, the rate of proliferation of cells was decreased compared to the smooth surface of the control. In conclusion, the results described here are very important in the understanding of the interaction between implanted materials and biosystems.