• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.13 no.6
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• pp.443-448
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• 2009

For successful visual perception by visual prosthesis using electrical stimulation, it is essential to develop an effective stimulation strategy based on understanding of retinal ganglion cell (RGC) responses to electrical stimulation. We studied RGC responses to repetitive electrical stimulation pulses to develop a stimulation strategy using stimulation pulse frequency modulation. Retinal patches of photoreceptor-degenerated retinas from rd1 mice were attached to a planar multi-electrode array (MEA) and RGC spike trains responding to electrical stimulation pulse trains with various pulse frequencies were observed. RGC responses were strongly dependent on inter-pulse interval when it was varied from 500 to 10 ms. Although the evoked spikes were suppressed with increasing pulse rate, the number of evoked spikes were >60% of the maximal responses when the inter-pulse intervals exceeded 100 ms. Based on this, we investigated the modulation of evoked RGC firing rates while increasing the pulse frequency from 1 to 10 pulses per second (or Hz) to deduce the optimal pulse frequency range for modulation of RGC response strength. RGC response strength monotonically and linearly increased within the stimulation frequency of 1~9 Hz. The results suggest that the evoked neural activities of RGCs in degenerated retina can be reliably controlled by pulse frequency modulation, and may be used as a stimulation strategy for visual neural prosthesis.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.219-230
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• 1988

The effect of glycine, structurally the most simple amino acid was investigated on the electrophysiological characteristics of the isolated superfused atrial muscle and sinus node cells of the rabbit heart. Superfusion of the sinus node cell with glycine solution (3, 5 and 8 mM) produced concentration-dependent increments of OS (overshoot potential) and MDP (maximum diastolic potential). Generally action potential amplitude increased as a result of greater increment of OS than that of MDP. The changes in action potential of the sinus node cell peaked in $7{\sim}10{\;}minutes$ after onset of superfusioin. On the contrary to the response to intravenously administered glycine, the rate of spontaneous firing of sinus node cell was invariably increased following superfusion with glycine. Action potential duration manifested as $APD_{60}$ (time to 60% repolarization) was significantly shortened by glycine. And the electrophysiological effects of glycine on the atrial muscle cell were similar to that on the sinus node cells. The results of present study suggest that glycine can exert direct effects on the atrial muscle and sinus node cells of the rabbit heart.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.27 no.11
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• pp.1177-1182
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• 2004

The effect of poly[2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine] (pMPC) on the skin permeation property was investigated by performing in vitro skin permeation study of a model drug, nicotinic acid (NA). Effect of pMPC polymer in donor solution on skin permeation rates was evaluated using side-by-side diffusion cells. Also, the structural alterations in the stratum corneum (SC), inter-lamellar bilayer (ILB) and dermis layers in pMPC-treated and -untreated skin sections were investigated with transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The permeation profile of NA without pMPC in donor solution showed biphasic mode: initial $1^{st} phase and 2^{nd}$ hydration phase. The sudden, more than 10-fold increase in flux from the initial steady state (43.5 $\mu g/cm^2$/hr) to the $2^{nd}$ hydration phase (457.3 $\mu g/cm^2$/hr) suggests the disruption of skin barrier function due to extensive hydration. The permeation profile of NA with 3% pMPC in the donor solution showed monophasic pattern: the steady state flux (10.9 $\mu g/cm^2$/hr) without abrupt increase of the flux. The degree of NA permeation rate decreased in a concentration-dependent manner of pMPC. TEM of skin equilibrated with water or 2% pMPC for 12 h showed that corneocytes are still cohesive and epidermis is tightly bound to dermis in 2% pMPC-treated skin, while wider separation between corneocytes and focal dilations in inter-cellular spaces were observed in water-treated skin. This result suggests that pMPC could protect the barrier property of the stratum corneum by preventing the disruption of ILB structure caused by extensive skin hydration during skin permeation study.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.1-6
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• 2020

Objective: The incidence rate of elbow ulnar collateral ligament injuries is dependent on the throwing speed or pitching type, especially in adolescent baseball players. However, mixed results have been reported due to a lack of controlled biomechanical analysis. Thus, the purpose of this study was to investigate the biomechanical analysis of the elbow in relation to throwing speed and pitching type. Method: Four overhead type high-school baseball players were recruited for this study. The participants were asked to throw balls with different types of pitch and speed. While the throwing speeds were measured, each pitching moment of the elbow was recorded. Descriptive statistics, frequency analysis, mean comparison analysis, and Pearson's correlation analysis were performed in order to examine differences in peak varus and valgus moment during pitching motion in the elbow in all throwing speed and pitching types. Results: There was no significant difference in physical characteristics, throwing speed, and momentum variability among all players. The mean varus moments were 44.38±1.55 Nm, 48.83±1.66 Nm, and 48.94±0.95 Nm, and the moment gaps between varus and valgus were 7.36±3.25 Nm, 7.44±2.02 Nm, and 7.36±2.62 Nm in fastball, curveball, and slider ball, respectively. The varus moment was higher in the curved and slider balls than in the fastballs, and there was no significant differences between the varus moments regarding the pitching type. However, the increase in valgus moment and decrease in moment gap according to throwing speed was significantly increased in the slider ball (r=0.718 and -0.591, respectively). Conclusion: The possibility of elbow injury caused by the valgus moment or moment gapincreases more rapidly in slider balls as the speed increases. Based on our results, appropriate pitching guidelines should be suggested to prevent ulnarligament injuries, especially in adolescent baseball players.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society Of Semiconductor Equipment Technology
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• 2007.06a
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• pp.193-198
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• 2007

The NiSi is very promising candidate for the metallization in 60nm CMOS process such as FUSI(fully silicided) gate and source/drain contact because it exhibits non-size dependent resistance, low silicon consumption and mid-gap workfunction. Ni film was first deposited by using ALD (atomic layer deposition) technique with Bis-Ni precursor and $H_2$ reactant gas at $220^{\circ}C$ with deposition rate of $1.25{\AA}/cycle$. The as-deposited Ni film exhibited a sheet resistance of $5{\Omega}/{\square}$. RTP (repaid thermal process) was then performed by varying temperature from $400^{\circ}C$ to $900^{\circ}C$ in $N_2$ ambient for the formation of NiSi. The process window temperature for the formation of low-resistance NiSi was estimated from $600^{\circ}C$ to $800^{\circ}C$ and from $700^{\circ}C$ to $800^{\circ}C$ with and without Ti capping layer. The respective sheet resistance of the films was changed to $2.5{\Omega}/{\square}$ and $3{\Omega}/{\square}$ after silicidation. This is because Ti capping layer increases reaction between Ni and Si and suppresses the oxidation and impurity incorporation into Ni film during silicidation process. The NiSi films were treated by additional thermal stress in a resistively heated furnace for test of thermal stability, showing that the film heat-treated at $800^{\circ}C$ was more stable than that at $700^{\circ}C$ due to better crystallinity.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.26 no.10
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• pp.513-520
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• 2016

The effect of NaOH concentration on the properties of electrolytic plasma processing (EPP) coating formed on AZ61A Mg alloy is studied. Various types of EPP were employed on magnesium alloy AZ61A in a silicate bath with different concentrations of NaOH additive. Analysis of the composition and structure of the coating layers was carried out using an X-ray diffractometer (XRD) and a scanning electron microscope (SEM). The results showed that the oxide coating layer mainly consisted of MgO and $Mg_2SiO_4$; its porosity and thickness were highly dependent on the NaOH concentration. The Vickers hardness was over 900 HV for all the coatings. The oxide layer with 3 g/l of NaOH concentration exhibited the highest hardness value (1220 HV) and the lowest wear rate. Potentiodynamic testing of the 3 g/l NaOH concentration showed that this concentration had the highest corrosion resistance value of $2.04{\times}10^5{\Omega}cm^2$; however, the corrosion current density value of $5.80{\times}10^{-7}A/cm^2$ was the lowest such value.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.135-149
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• 2006

Purpose : This study was aimed to investigate the inhibitory effect of Millettia Reticulatas on the proliferation of human uterine leiomyoma cells and the expression of gene related the mechanism of cell apoptosis. Methods : We counted the number of death cells treated with indicated concentration of Millettia Reticulatas and investigated cell death rate by MTS assay. Furthermore, flow cytometry analyis and DNA fragmentation assay were used to dissect between necrosis and apoptosis. and then we observed the differential gene expression by western blot analysis. Results : 1) The inhibitory effect on the growth of uterine leiomyoma cell treated with Millettia Reticulatas was increased in a concentration proportional. 2) The result of flow cytometry analysis. subG1 phase arrest related3 cell apoptosis was investigated 23.49% in uterine leiomyoma cell treated Millettia Reticulatas and showed the fession of proportional concentration. 3) The gene expression of p27, p53, p21, p16 related cell cycle was increased according to increasing concentration but cyclin E was none exchanged. 4) The character of apoptosis, DNA fragmentation was significantly observed the fession of proportional concentration. 5) The expression of pro-caspase3 and PARP were decreased dependent on treatment concentration. Conclusion : This study showed that Millettia Reticulatas have the inhibitory effect on the proliferation of human uterine leiomyoma cell and the effect was related with apoptosis. The apoptotic mechanism was observed that the gene expression of p27, p53, p21, p16 related cell cycle was increased according to increasing treatment concentration, induced G1 phase arrest and finally cell death was occurred. The decreased expression of pro-caspase 3 and PARP were noted that apoptosis was related with caspase pathway.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.748-755
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• 2007

To develop an efficient pump operating rule for a retard basin, it is necessary to estimate inflow to the retard basin accurately which is affected by the backwater effect at the outlet of the conduit. The magnitude of the backwater effect is dependent on the water depth of a retard basin; however, the depth is determined by the amount of inflow and outflow. Thus, a real time simulation system that is able to simulate urban runoff and the pump operation with the consideration of the backwater effect is required to estimate the actual inflow to a retard basin. With this system, the efficient pump operating rule can be developed to diminish the possible flood damage on urban areas. In this study, a realtime simulation system is developed using the SWMM 5.0 DLL and Visual Basic 6.0 equipped with EXCEL to estimate inflow considering the backwater effect. The realtime simulation can be done by updating realtime input data such as minutely observed rainfall and the depth of a retard basin. Using those updated input data, the model estimates actual inflow, the amount of outflow discharged by pumps and gates, the depth of each junction, and flow rate at a sewer pipe on realtime basis. The developed model was applied to the Joonggok retard basin and demonstrated that it can be used to design a sewer system and to estimate actual inflow through the inlet sewer to reduce the inundation risk. As results, we find that the model can contribute to establish better operating practices for the pumps and the flood drainage system.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.25 no.5
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• pp.713-719
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• 2009

A natural wetland in the Nakdong River basin which effectively removes non-point source pollutants was investigated for 2 years to understand wetland topography, vegetation types, and water quality characteristics. The water depth of the natural wetland was in the range of 0.5~1.9 m which is suitable for the growth of non-emergent hydrophytes. The wetland has a high length to width ratio (3.3:1) and a relatively large wetland to watershed area ratio (0.057). A broad-crested weir at the outlet increases the retention time of the wetland whose hydrology is mainly dependent on storm events. The concentrations of dissolved oxygen in the growing season and the winter season showed anoxic and oxic conditions, respectively. Diurnal variations of DO and pH in the growing season were also observed due to weather change and submerged plants. COD and TP concentrations were low in the winter season due to low inflow rate and increased retention time. Increased TP concentrations in the spring season were caused by degradation of dead wetland plants. Nitrogen in the wetland was mostly in organic nitrogen form (>75%). During the growing season, ammonium concentration was high but nitrate nitrogen concentration was low, possibly due to anoxic and low pH conditions which are adverse conditions for ammonificaiton and nitrification. The results of this study can be used as preliminary data for design, operation, monitoring and management of a constructed wetland which is designed to treat diffuse pollutants in the Nakdong river watershed.

• Journal of Korean Society of Water and Wastewater
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.335-344
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• 2020

Due to global climate change, mega-droughts have occurred frequently. Since long-term droughts make it difficult to secure the water resources, water supply needs to be restricted in a reasonable manner. In the event of limited water supply, the waterworks need to develop a restricted water supply strategy. This study showed that analyzing daily water supply could be used to respond to the first stage of a drought. According to an analysis of Korea's major water authorities, there was about 7~21% of room for daily minimum water supply in case of a drought. Restricting the water supply by lowering pressure is a good strategy for local water authorities with high water leakage rate since leakage is inversely dependent with pressure. For this method, it is necessary to quantify water deficiency and pressure at each node using a simulation. Since DDA-based software is not possible to predict changes in demand at nodes with pressure reduction, WaterGEMS, a PDA software, was used to quantitatively predict water shortages and pressures at each node. Locations where water is deficient need to install booster pumps or to be dispatched with water tank truck and bottled water. Without these support, lowering pressure could not be an option for water works. This paper suggests a method for waterworks to plan a drought by lowering pressure to restrict water supply using daily water supply analysis and PDA based simulation.