• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.1474-1478
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• 2010

An efficient method for labeling individual proteins in live cells is required for investigations into biological mechanisms and cellular processes. Here we describe the preparation of small quantum dots (QDs) that target membrane surface proteins bearing a hexahistidine-tag ($His_6$-tag) via specific binding to an nitrilotriacetic acid complex of nickel(II) ($NTA{\cdot}Ni^{2+}$) on the QD surfaces. We showed that the $NTA{\cdot}Ni^{2+}$-QDs bound to His-tag functionalized beads as a cellular mimic with high specificity and that QDs successfully targeted $His_6$-tagged vesicle-associated membrane proteins (VMAP) on cell surfaces. This strategy provides an efficient approach to monitoring synaptic protein dynamics in spatially restricted and confined biological environments.

• Biomaterials Research
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.352-359
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• 2018

Background: Black phosphorus (BP) has emerged as a novel class of nanomaterials owing to its unique optical and electronic properties. BP, a two-dimensional (2D) nanomaterial, is a structure where phosphorenes are stacked together in layers by van der Waals interactions. However, although BP nanodots have many advantages, their biosafety and biological effect have not yet been elucidated as compared to the other nanomaterials. Therefore, it is particularly important to assess the cytotoxicity of BP nanodots for exploring their potentials as novel biomaterials. Methods: BP nanodots were prepared by exfoliation with a modified ultrasonication-assisted solution method. The physicochemical properties of BP nanodots were characterized by transmission electron microscopy, dynamic light scattering, Raman spectroscopy, and X-ray diffractometry. In addition, the cytotoxicity of BP nanodots against C2C12 myoblasts was evaluated. Moreover, their cell imaging potential was investigated. Results: Herein, we concentrated on evaluating the cytotoxicity of BP nanodots and investigating their cell imaging potential. It was revealed that the BP nanodots were cytocompatible at a low concentration, although the cell viability was decreased with increasing BP nanodot concentration. Furthermore, our results demonstrated that the cells took up the BP nanodots, and the BP nanodots exhibited green fluorescence. Conclusions: In conclusion, our findings suggest that the BP nanodots have suitable biocompatibility, and are promising candidates as fluorescence probes for biomedical imaging applications.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Visualization
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.69-73
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• 2011

Butterflies have been known to suck viscous liquids through a long, cylindrical proboscis using the large pressure difference formulated by the cyclic expansion and contraction of a muscular pump located inside their head. However, there are few studies on the liquid-feeding phenomena in a live butterfly, because it is hard to observe the internal morphological structures under in vivo condition. In this study, the dynamic motion of the pump system in a butterfly was in vivo visualized using synchrotron X-ray micro-imaging technique to analyze the liquid-feeding mechanism. The period of the liquid-feeding process is about 0.3sec. The expansion stage is about two times larger than the contraction stage in one cycle. The cyclic variation of pump volume generate large negative suction pressure and the pressure difference inside the long proboscis of a butterfly is estimated to be larger than 1atm.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.36 no.6
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• pp.336-339
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• 2019

A castrated, 6-year-old, male Turkish Angora cat with a history of respiratory distress was referred to the hospital. Physical examination revealed a cardiac murmur, and thoracic radiographic findings revealed pleural effusion and cardiomegaly. Echocardiography showed abnormality of the tricuspid and mitral valve, and color-flow Doppler imaging revealed regurgitation between both atrium and ventricle. Based on the echocardiographic examination, tricuspid valve dysplasia concurrent with mitral valve dysplasia was diagnosed. However, the patient died a week after treatment. In necropsy, bilateral atrioventricular valve dysplasia and left ventricular hypertrophy were confirmed. This is the first report to describe a middle age Turkish angora cat having bilateral atrioventricular valve dysplasia which has high mortality and only been reported rarely in cats. This case report also describes its clinical signs, diagnostic imaging findings, treatment and discussions how the patient could live long.

• Proceedings of the KSLP Conference
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• 2016.03a
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• pp.42-42
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• 2016

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Broadcast Engineers Conference
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• 2017.06a
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• pp.201-204
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• 2017

최근의 웹을 기반으로 한 소셜 네트워크 서비스의 발전은 사회관계 형성 서비스를 넘어 광고 마케팅 및 SNS 오픈마켓 등의 상업적 이용으로까지 사용되고 있으며 Facebook Live와 같은 개인방송의 영역까지 확장되고 있다. 인터넷을 통한 온라인상의 사회관계는 노화와 질환으로 외출이 어려운 노년층에게 지역사회 및 친구들과의 의사소통을 가능하게 할 뿐만 아니라 인터넷을 통한 정보 활용으로 생활의 질을 향상시키고, 노후를 즐길 수 있는 방법을 찾는 데 도움을 줄 수 있다고 알려져 있다. 하지만 대부분의 웹서비스는 복잡한 사용자 인터페이스를 제공하고 있으며 익숙하지 않은 기기를 사용하는 것은 노년층에게 쉽지 않기 때문에 노년층은 제한된 콘텐츠만을 제공받게 되어 정보화 사회에서 소외될 가능성이 있다. 이에 본 논문에서는 웹 접근성을 향상시킨 소셜 콘텐츠 서비스 Photo Alive! Demo EasyFace를 소개한다. 또한 노년층이 다루기 어려웠던 키보드와 마우스를 벗어나 새로운 조작 기기들로 웹 서비스를 이용할 수 있도록 구현하였다. MINIX Remote Control, Mirroring, EasyFace Control Application 세 가지의 조작기기 작동 방법을 구현하여 노년층에 맞춤화 된 새로운 사용자 인터페이스를 제안하고자 한다.

• Journal of Electrical Engineering and Technology
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.1418-1425
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• 2014

In ultrasonic medical imaging, spatial compounding of images is a technique where ultrasonic beam is steered to examine patient tissues in multiple angles. In the conventional ultrasonic diagnostic imaging, the steering of the ultrasonic beam is achieved electronically using the phased array transducer elements. In this paper, a spatial compounding approach is presented where the ultrasonic probe element is rotated mechanically and the beam steering is achieved mechanically. In the spatial compounding, target position is computed using the value of the rotation axis and the transducer array angular position. However, in the process of the rotation mechanism construction and the control system there arises the inevitable uncertainties in these values. These geometric parameter errors result in the target position error, and the consequence is a blurry compounded image. In order to reduce these target position errors, we present a spatial compounding scheme where error correcting transformation matrices are computed and applied to the raw images before spatial compounding to reduce the blurriness in the compounded image. The proposed scheme is illustrated using phantom and live scan images of human knee, and it is shown that the blurriness is effectively reduced.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.51 no.3
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• pp.241-248
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• 2015

Although studies on probiotics have been performed mostly with viable microbes, the beneficial functions of dead or heat-killed form of probiotic strains have also been examined. In this study, live and heat-killed forms of Lactobacillus acidophilus CBT LA1 were investigated in vitro and in vivo to evaluate the properties necessary for gut barrier protection. Cell surface hydrophobicity (CSH), autoaggregation (AA), cell adhesion, and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-binding properties were evaluated. In addition, the suppressive effect on LPS-induced interleukin (IL)-8 expression was investigated in HT-29 cells. To identify optimal conditions for CBT LA1 to adhere to HT-29 cells, CBT LA1 cells were heat-treated at 80, 85, 90, 95, 100, or $121^{\circ}C$ for 10 min; cells treated at $80^{\circ}C$ for 10 min showed the highest adhesion. Heat-killed bacteria at $80^{\circ}C$ showed higher levels of LPS-binding, CSH, AA, adhesion to HT-29, and suppression of IL-8 expression than did live CBT LA1. In vivo imaging was performed to evaluate the ability of live or heat-killed CBT LA1 to remove LPS from the intestine in a rat model of infection. At 16 h after infection, fluorescence from FITC-conjugated LPS had mostly disappeared from the intestine of the rats administered with live or heat-killed CBT LA1; the effect was greater with heat-killed CBT LA1 at $80^{\circ}C$. These results suggest that heat-killed CBT LA1 as well as its live form can be applied as a pharmabiotic for protection of the gut barrier.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.38 no.11
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• pp.975-981
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• 2015

Precise 3D spatial mapping of cells and their connections within living tissues is required to fully understand developmental processes and neural activities. Zebrafish embryos are relatively small and optically transparent, making them the vertebrate model of choice for live in vivo imaging. However, embryonic brains cannot be imaged in their entirety by confocal or two-photon microscopy due to limitations in optical range and scanning speed. Here, we use light-sheet fluorescence microscopy to overcome these limitations and image the entire head of live transgenic zebrafish embryos. We simultaneously imaged cranial neurons and blood vessels during embryogenesis, generating comprehensive 3D maps that provide insight into the coordinated morphogenesis of the nervous system and vasculature during early development. In addition, blood cells circulating through the entire head, vagal and cardiac vasculature were also visualized at high resolution in a 3D movie. These data provide the foundation for the construction of a complete 4D atlas of zebrafish embryogenesis and neural activity.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2013.02a
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• pp.110-111
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• 2013

FcBP consisting of 13 amino acids specifically binds to Immunoglobulin G Fc domain. Initially, we utilized this peptide for preparation of antibody chip as a PEG composite for enhanced solubility. After then, the peptide conjugate was immobilized on agarose resin, resulting in highly efficient affinity column for antibody purification. The efficiency was comparable to commercial Protein A column. Recently, this peptide was conjugated with cell penetrating peptide (CPP) on a backbone of GFP, affording antibody transducer, which carries antibody into live cells by simple mixing of antibody and the transducer in cell culture media. Antibody transduction into cells was monitored by live cell imaging. More recently, the FcBP was fused to ferritin cage, which consists of 24 ferritin protein molecules. The FcBP-ferritin cage showed greatly increased binding affinity to human IgG. Its binding was analyzed by QCM and SPR analysis. Finally, it was selectively delivered by Herceptin to SKBR3, a breast cancer cell, over MCF10A, non-tumorigenic cells (Fig. 1). Fig. 1. Fluorescent microscopic images of SKBR3 breast cancer cells (A~C) and MCF10A breast cells (D~F) treated with Cy3-trastuzumab/fFcBP-Pf_Fn complexes. Trastuzumab and FcBP-Pf_Fn, which were labeled with Cy3 (Cy3-trastuzumab) and fluorescein (fFcBP-Pf_Fn), respectively, selectively targeted SKBR3 over MCF10A.