• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.394-401
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• 2016

Recently, the clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)-associated protein 9 (CRISPR/Cas9) system, a genome editing technology, was shown to be versatile in treating several antibiotic-resistant bacteria. In the present study, we applied the CRISPR/Cas9 technology to kill extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Escherichia coli. ESBL bacteria are mostly multidrug resistant (MDR), and have plasmid-mediated antibiotic resistance genes that can be easily transferred to other members of the bacterial community by horizontal gene transfer. To restore sensitivity to antibiotics in these bacteria, we searched for a CRISPR/Cas9 target sequence that was conserved among >1,000 ESBL mutants. There was only one target sequence for each TEM- and SHV-type ESBL, with each of these sequences found in ~200 ESBL strains of each type. Furthermore, we showed that these target sequences can be exploited to re-sensitize MDR cells in which resistance is mediated by genes that are not the target of the CRISPR/Cas9 system, but by genes that are present on the same plasmid as target genes. We believe our Re-Sensitization to Antibiotics from Resistance (ReSAFR) technology, which enhances the practical value of the CRISPR/Cas9 system, will be an effective method of treatment against plasmid-carrying MDR bacteria.

• Journal of the Earthquake Engineering Society of Korea
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.163-170
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• 2023

In the fluid-structure interaction analysis, the finite element formulation is performed for the wave equation for dynamic fluid pressure, and the dynamic pressure is defined as a degree of freedom at the fluid nodes. Therefore, to connect the fluid to the structure, it is necessary to connect the degree of freedom of fluid dynamic pressure and the degree of freedom of structure displacement through an interface element derived from the relationship between dynamic pressure and displacement. The previously proposed fluid-structure interface elements use conformal finite element meshes in which the fluid and structure match. However, it is challenging to construct conformal meshes when complex models, such as water purification plants and wastewater treatment facilities, are models. Therefore, to increase modeling convenience, a method is required to model the fluid and structure domains by independent finite element meshes and then connect them. In this study, two fluid-structure interface elements, one based on constraints and the other based on the integration of nonsmooth functions, are proposed in nonconformal finite element meshes for structures and fluids, and their accuracy is verified.

• Transactions on Electrical and Electronic Materials
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.16-20
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• 2006

In this paper, we investigated the effects of short-term oxygen plasma treatment of semiconducting silicone layer to improve interfacial performances in joints prepared with a insulating silicone materials. Surface characterizations were assessed using contact angle measurement and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and then adhesion level and electrical performance were evaluated through T-peel tests and electrical breakdown voltage tests of treated semi-conductive and insulating joints. Plasma exposure mainly increased the polar component of surface energy from $0.21\;dyne/cm^2$ to $47\;dyne/cm^2$ with increasing plasma treatment time and then leveled off. Based on XPS analysis, the surface modification can be mainly ascribed to the creation of chemically active functional groups such as C-O, C=O and COH on semi-conductive silicone surface. This oxidized rubber layer is inorganic silica-like structure of Si bound with three to four oxygen atoms ($SiO_x,\;x=3{\sim}4$). The oxygen plasma treatment produces an increase in joint strength that is maximum for 10 min treatment. However, due to brittle property of this oxidized layer, the highly oxidized layer from too much extended treatment could be act as a weak point, decreasing the adhesion strength. In addition, electrical breakdown level of joints with adequate plasma treatment was increased by about $10\;\%$ with model samples of joints prepared with a semi-conducting/ insulating silicone polymer after applied to interface.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.746-755
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• 2020

Objective: To identify predictors of pulmonary fibrosis development by combining follow-up thin-section CT findings and clinical features in patients discharged after treatment for COVID-19. Materials and Methods: This retrospective study involved 32 confirmed COVID-19 patients who were divided into two groups according to the evidence of fibrosis on their latest follow-up CT imaging. Clinical data and CT imaging features of all the patients in different stages were collected and analyzed for comparison. Results: The latest follow-up CT imaging showed fibrosis in 14 patients (male, 12; female, 2) and no fibrosis in 18 patients (male, 10; female, 8). Compared with the non-fibrosis group, the fibrosis group was older (median age: 54.0 years vs. 37.0 years, p = 0.008), and the median levels of C-reactive protein (53.4 mg/L vs. 10.0 mg/L, p = 0.002) and interleukin-6 (79.7 pg/L vs. 11.2 pg/L, p = 0.04) were also higher. The fibrosis group had a longer-term of hospitalization (19.5 days vs. 10.0 days, p = 0.001), pulsed steroid therapy (11.0 days vs. 5.0 days, p < 0.001), and antiviral therapy (12.0 days vs. 6.5 days, p = 0.012). More patients on the worst-state CT scan had an irregular interface (59.4% vs. 34.4%, p = 0.045) and a parenchymal band (71.9% vs. 28.1%, p < 0.001). On initial CT imaging, the irregular interface (57.1%) and parenchymal band (50.0%) were more common in the fibrosis group. On the worst-state CT imaging, interstitial thickening (78.6%), air bronchogram (57.1%), irregular interface (85.7%), coarse reticular pattern (28.6%), parenchymal band (92.9%), and pleural effusion (42.9%) were more common in the fibrosis group. Conclusion: Fibrosis was more likely to develop in patients with severe clinical conditions, especially in patients with high inflammatory indicators. Interstitial thickening, irregular interface, coarse reticular pattern, and parenchymal band manifested in the process of the disease may be predictors of pulmonary fibrosis. Irregular interface and parenchymal band could predict the formation of pulmonary fibrosis early.

• Korean Journal of Metals and Materials
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.316-323
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• 2012

The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of post heat treatment on bonding properties of roll cladded Ti/MS/Ti materials. First grade Ti sheets and SPCC mild steel sheets were prepared and then Ti/MS/Ti clad materials were fabricated by a cold rolling and post heat treatment process. Microstructure and point analysis of the Ti/MS interfaces were performed using the SEM and EDX Analyser. Diffusion bonding was observed at the interfaces of Ti/MS. The thickness of the diffusion layer increased with post heat treatment temperature and the diffusion layer was verified as having $({\epsilon}+{\zeta})+({\zeta}+{\beta}-Ti)$ intermetallic compounds at $700^{\circ}C$ and an $({\zeta}+{\beta}-Ti)$ intermetallic compound at $800^{\circ}C$, respectively. The micro Knoop hardness of mild steel decreased with post heat treatment temperature; however, those of Ti decreased at a range of $500{\sim}600^{\circ}C$ and showed a uniform value until $800^{\circ}C$ and then increased rapidly up to $900^{\circ}C$. The micro Knoop hardness value of the diffusion layer increased up to $700^{\circ}C$ and then saturated with post heat treatment. A T-type peel test was used to estimate the bonding forces of Ti/Mild steel interfaces. The bonding forces decreased up to $800^{\circ}C$ and then increased slightly with post heat treatment. The optimized temperature ranges for post heat treatment were $500{\sim}600^{\circ}C$ to obtain the proper formability for an additional plastic deformation process.

• Journal of Technologic Dentistry
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.39-49
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• 1987

This study done to evaluate some surface treatment methods in metal coping which can increase the bond strength between porcelain and metal. Therefore this experiment was performed according to the Mc Lean's Theory of bond strength between porcelain and strength between porcelain and metal. In the experiment the author measured respective thermal expansion coefficents in three types of metal(Tallasium, Vera Bond and Rexillium) and Vita Porcelain to get the differences in the coefficents between porcelain and metals. And using insteron testing machine, the author also performed Planar interface shear bond tests on the 45 specimens(15 specimens in oxide surface, rough surface and fine surface treatment methods respectively) to measure bond strength between metal and porcelain. The results Were as follows, 1. The differences in thermal expansion coefficients between three types of metal and Vita procelain: Talladium - $1.2\;10^{-6/0}\;C$, Vera Bond - $1.6\;10^{-6/0}\;C$, Rexillium - $1.9\;10^{-6/0}\;C$. 2. The bond strength in oxide surface on the Shear bond test was the lowest among the treatment methods. 3. There was no significant differences in treatment methods of rough surface of fine surface. 4. In the oxide surface treatment method, there were significant differences(P<0.05)between Vera bond and Rexillium, and between Talladium and Rexillium. 5. In the fine surface treatment, there was a significant difference(P<0.05)between Talladium and Rexillium.

• 한국정보디스플레이학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2002.08a
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• pp.563-566
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• 2002

We investigated to decrease the leakage current of SiNx film by employing $N_2$ plasma treatment. The insulator layers were prepared by two step process; the $N_2$ plasma treatment and then PECVD SiNx deposition with $SiH_4$, $N_2$ gases. To prove the influence of the $N_2$ plasma treatment, the Si substrate was exposed to the plasma, which was generated in Ne gas ambient. Without plasma treatment SiNx film grow at the rate of 7. 03 nm/min, has a refractive index n = 1.77 and hydrogen content of $2.16{\times}10^{22}cm^{-3}$ for $N_2/SiH_4$ gas flow ratio of 20. The obtained films were analyzed in terms of deposition rates, refractive index, hydrogen concentration, and electrical properties. By employing $N_2$ plasma treatment, interface traps such as mobile charges and injected charges were removed, hysteresis of capacitance-voltage (C-V) disappeared. We observed plasma treated sample were decreased the leakage current density reduces by 2 orders with respect to the sample having no plasma treatment.

• Journal of Adhesion and Interface
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.15-27
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• 2007

Polyimide (PI) surface modification was carried out by ion-beam treatment and silane-imidazole coupling agent to improve the adhesion between polyimide film and copper. Silane-imidazole coupling agent contains imidazole functional groups for the formation of a complex with copper metal through a coordination bonding and methoxy silane groups for the formation of siloxane polymers. The PI film surface was first treated by argon (Ar)/oxygen ($O_2$) ion-beam, followed by dipping it into a modified silane-imidazole coupling agent solution. The results of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) spectra revealed that the $Ar/O_2$ plasma treatment formed oxygen functional groups such as hydroxyl and carbonyl groups on the polyimide film surface and confirmed that the PI surface was modified by a coupling reaction with imidazole-silane coupling agent. Adhesion between copper and the treated PI film by ion-beam and coupling agent was superior to that with untreated PI film. In addition, adhesion of PI film treated by an $Ar/O_2$ plasma to copper was better than that of PI film treated by a coupling agent. The peeled-off layers from the copper-PI film joint were completely different in chemical composition each other. The layer of PI film side showed similar C1s, N1s, O1s spectra to the original Upilex-S and no Si and Cu atoms appeared. On the other hand the layer of copper side showed different C1s and N1s spectra from the original PI film and many Si and Cu atoms appeared. This indicates that the failure occurs at an interface between the imidazole-silane and PI film layers rather than within the PI layers.

• Journal of computational fluids engineering
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.8-15
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• 2012

A code developed using the flux-difference splitting scheme on the hybrid Cartesian/immersed boundary method is applied to simulate three-dimensional internal waves. The material interface is regarded as a moving contact discontinuity and is captured on the basis of mass conservation without any additional treatment across the interface. Inviscid fluxes are estimated using the flux-difference splitting scheme for incompressible fluids of different density. The hybrid Cartesian/immersed boundary method is used to enforce the boundary condition for a moving three-dimensional body. Immersed boundary nodes are identified within an instantaneous fluid domain on the basis of edges crossing a boundary. The dependent variables are reconstructed at the immersed boundary nodes along local normal lines to provide the boundary condition for a discretized flow problem. The internal waves are simulated, which are generated by an pitching ellipsoid near an material interface. The effects of density ratio and location of the ellipsoid on internal waves are compared.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Technology of Plasticity Conference
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• 2004.08a
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• pp.197-203
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• 2004

A full finite element (FE)-based approach is presented for the precision analysis of the strip profile in flat rolling. Basic FE models for the analysis of the mechanical behavior of the strip and of the rolls are described in detail. Also described is an iterative strategy for a rigorous treatment of the mechanical contact occurring at the roll-strip interface and at the roll-roll interface. Then, presented is an integrated FE process model for the coupled analysis of the mechanical behavior of the strip, work roll, and backup roll in four-high mill. A series of process simulation are conducted and the results are compared with the measurements made in hot and cold rolling experiments.