• Annals of Clinical Neurophysiology
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.55-65
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• 2023

The ultimate role of ocular movements is to keep the image of an object within the fovea and thereby prevent image slippage on the retina. Accurate evaluations of eye movements provide very useful information for understanding the functions of the oculomotor system and determining abnormalities therein. Such evaluations also play an important role in enabling accurate diagnoses by identifying the location of lesions and discriminating from other diseases. There are various types of ocular movements, and this article focuses on saccades, fast eye movements, smooth pursuit, and slow eye movements, which are the most important types of eye movements used in evaluations performed in clinical practice.

• Journal of the Korean Mathematical Society
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• v.61 no.4
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• pp.743-760
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• 2024

In this paper, we are devoted to study a forth order curve flow for a smooth closed curve in centro-affine geometry. Firstly, a new evolutionary equation about this curve flow is proposed. Then the related geometric quantities and some meaningful conclusions are obtained through the equation. Next, we obtain finite order differential inequalities for energy by applying interpolation inequalities, Cauchy-Schwartz inequalities, etc. After using a completely new symbolic expression, the n-order differential inequality for energy is considered. Finally, by the means of energy estimation, we prove that the forth order curve flow has a smooth solution all the time for any closed smooth initial curve.

• Journal of the Chungcheong Mathematical Society
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.131-136
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• 1995

We give another detailed proof of the existence of a holomorphic structure on a smooth complex vector bundle over a complex manifold.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Precision Engineering Conference
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• 2002.05a
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• pp.918-921
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• 2002

Some investigators who have tried to achieve the highly smooth surface finish using electrochemical processes have reported that high current density produced lustrous surfaces while the opposite conditions produced a passive layer and had a tendency to produce a black surface. However, processing at a low current density may produce a non-lustrous surface but the improvement of dimensional accuracy of the surface is significant. The surface with pulse process was a bit more lustrous than with continuous current but the black passive layer still could be found at grooved surface. There are two ways to achieve highly smooth surface finish. One is brushing it with a brush the other is electrochemical machining (ECM) with high current. The former method is the most common polishing practice, but not only may the surface obtained differ from operator to operator, but precision smooth surface on micro grooves are difficult to obtain. The latter one recently has been used to produce a highly smooth surface after EDM process. However, the material removal rate in ECM with high current is relatively high. Hence the original shape of the micro grooves, which was formed by electrochemical micro-machining (EMM) process, may be destroyed. In this study, an electrochemical polishing process using pulse current is adopted as a possible alternative process when micro grooves formed by EMM process should be polished. Mirror-like micro grooves with lustrous and smooth surface can be produced electrochemically with pulse current because the voltage and current used can be lower than the case of continuous current. This study will discuss the accurate control of physical and electrical conditions so as to achieve mirror-like micro grooves with lustrous and smooth surface without destroying the original shape of micro grooves.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.104-129
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• 1995

Sabaeksan and Sabaeksangagaryureuk, a traditional prescription, has been used in Korea for many centuries as a treatment for chronic respiratory disease. The purpose of the present study was to determine the effect of Sabaeksan and Sabaeksangagaryureuk on acetylcholine-induced tracheal smooth muscle contraction in guinea pigs and norepinephrine-induced vascular smooth muscle contraction in pigs. Guinea pig (500g, female) were killed by CO2 exposure and a segment (8-10mm) of the thoracic trachea from each guinea pig and renal artery from each pig were cut into equal segments and mounted 'in pairs' in a tissue bath. Contractile force was measured with force displacement transducers under 0.5g loading tension. The dose of acetylcholine (Ach) and norepinephrine (NE) which evoked 50% of maximal response ($ED_{50}$) was obtained from cumulative dose response curves for acetylcholine (10-7-10-4M) and norepinephrine (10-7-10-4M). Contractions of tracheal smooth muscle evoked by Ach ($ED_{50}$) were inhibited significantly by Sabaeksan and Sabaeksangagaryureuk. Propranolol (10-7M) slightly but significantly attenuated the inhibitory effects of Sabaeksan and Sabaeksangagaryureuk. Indomethacin and methylene blue (10-7M) did not significantly alter the inhibitory effect of Sabaeksan and Sabaeksanga-garyureuk. Contractions of vascular smooth muscle evoked by NE (NE50) were inhibited significantly by Sabaeksan and Sabaeksangagaryureuk. Propranolol (10-7M) slightly but significantly attenuated the inhibitory effects of Sabaeksan and Sabaeksangagaryureuk. Indomethacin and methylene blue (10-7M) did not significantly alter the inhibitory effect of Sabaeksan and Sabaeksangagaryureuk. These results indicate that Sabaeksan and Sabaeksangagaryureuk can relax acetylcholine-induced contraction of guinea pig tracheal smooth muscle, and norepinephrine-induced contraction of pig vascular smooth muscle that this inhibition involves, in part, the relation of adrenergic receptor.

• The Journal of Advanced Prosthodontics
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.96-102
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• 2014

PURPOSE. This study was performed to characterize the effects of zirconia coated with calcium phosphate and hydroxyapatite compared to smooth zirconia after bone marrow-derived osteoblast culture. MATERIALS AND METHODS. Bone marrow-derived osteoblasts were cultured on (1) smooth zirconia, (2) zirconia coated with calcium phosphate (CaP), and (3) zirconia coated with hydroxyapatite (HA). The tetrazolium-based colorimetric assay (MTT test) was used for cell proliferation evaluation. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity was measured to evaluate the cellular morphology and differentiation rate. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) was employed for the analysis of surface chemistry. The genetic expression of the osteoblasts and dissolution behavior of the coatings were observed. Assessment of the significance level of the differences between the groups was done with analysis of variance (ANOVA). RESULTS. From the MTT assay, no significant difference between smooth and surface coated zirconia was found (P>.05). From the SEM image, cells on all three groups of discs were sporadically triangular or spread out in shape with formation of filopodia. From the ALP activity assay, the optical density of osteoblasts on smooth zirconia discs was higher than that on surface treated zirconia discs (P>.05). Most of the genes related to cell adhesion showed similar expression level between smooth and surface treated zirconia. The dissolution rate was higher with CaP than HA coating. CONCLUSION. The attachment and growth behavior of bone-marrow-derived osteoblasts cultured on smooth surface coated zirconia showed comparable results. However, the HA coating showed more time-dependent stability compared to the CaP coating.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.119-125
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• 1999

Mammalian gastric smooth muscles generate spontaneous rhythmic contractions which are associated with slow oscillatory potentials (slow waves) and spike potentials. Spike potentials are blocked by organic $Ca^{2+}-antagonists,$ indicating that these result from the activation of L-type $Ca^{2+}-channel.$ However, the cellular mechanisms underlying the generation of slow wave remain unclear. Slow waves are insensitive to $Ca^{2+}-antagonists$ but are blocked by metabolic inhibitors or low temperature. Recently it has been suggested that Interstitial Cells of Cajal (ICC) serve as pacemaker cells and a slow wave reflects the coordinated behavior of both ICC and smooth muscle cells. Small segments of circular smooth muscle isolated from antrum of the guinea-pig stomach generated two types of electrical events; irregular small amplitude (1 to 7 mV) of transient depolarization and larger amplitude (20 to 30 mV) of slow depolarization (regenerative potential). Transient depolarization occurred irregularly and membrane depolarization increased their frequency. Regenerative potentials were generated rhythmically and appeared to result from summed transient depolarizations. Spike potentials, sensitive to nifedipine, were generated on the peaks of regenerative potentials. Depolarization of the membrane evoked regenerative potentials with long latencies (1 to 2 s). These potentials had long partial refractory periods (15 to 20 s). They were inhibited by low concentrations of caffeine, perhaps reflecting either depletion of $Ca^{2+}$ from SR or inhibition of InsP3 receptors, by buffering $Ca^{2+}$ to low levels with BAPTA or by depleting $Ca^{2+}$ from SR with CPA. They persisted in the presence of $Ca^{2+}-sensitive$ $Cl^--channel$ blockers, niflumic acid and DIDS or $Co^{2+},$ a non selective $Ca^{2+}-channel$ blocker. These results suggest that spontaneous activity of gastric smooth muscle results from $Ca^{2+}$ release from SR, followed by activation of $Ca^{2+}-dependent$ ion channels other than $Cl^-$ channels, with the release of $Ca^{2+}$ from SR being triggered by membrane depolarization.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.577-584
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• 2018

Bladder dysfunction is a common complication of diabetes mellitus (DM). However, there have been a few studies evaluating bladder smooth muscle contraction in DM in the presence of pharmacological inhibitors. In the present study, we compared the contractility of bladder smooth muscle from normal rats and DM rats. Furthermore, we utilized pharmacological inhibitors to delineate the mechanisms underlying bladder muscle differences between normal and DM rats. DM was established in 14 days after using a single injection of streptozotocin (65 mg/kg, intraperitoneal) in Sprague-Dawley rats. Bladder smooth muscle contraction was induced electrically using electrical field stimulation consisting of pulse trains at an amplitude of 40 V and pulse duration of 1 ms at frequencies of 2-10 Hz. In this study, the pharmacological inhibitors atropine (muscarinic receptor antagonist), U73122 (phospholipase C inhibitor), DPCPX (adenosine $A_1$ receptor antagonist), udenafil (PDE5 inhibitor), prazosin (${\alpha}_1$-receptor antagonist), verapamil (calcium channel blocker), and chelerythrine (protein kinase C inhibitor) were used to pretreat bladder smooth muscles. It was found that the contractility of bladder smooth muscles from DM rats was lower than that of normal rats. In addition, there were significant differences in percent change of contractility between normal and DM rats following pretreatment with prazosin, udenafil, verapamil, and U73122. In conclusion, we suggest that the decreased bladder muscle contractility in DM rats was a result of perturbations in $PLC/IP_3$-mediated intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ release and PDE5 activity.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.143-158
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• 2002

The purpose of the present study is to determine the effect of Jakyakgamchotang on histamine or acetylcholine induced tracheal smooth muscle contraction in rats and guinea pigs. Guinea pig(500g, male) and Sprague Dawley rats(250g, male) were killed by $CO_2$ exposure and a segment (4-5mm) of the thoracic trachea from each rat and guinea pig was cut into equal segments and mounted 'in pairs' in a tissue bath. Contractile force was measured with force displacement transducers under 0.5g loading tension. The dose of histamine(His) which evoked 50% of maximal response($ED_{50}$) was obtained from cumulative dose response curves for histamine($10^{-7}{\sim}10^{-4}M$). Contractions evoked by His($ED_{50}$) were inhibited significantly by Jakyakgamchotang. In guinea pig tracheal smooth muscle, the mean percent inhibition of histamine induced contraction was 90.8% (p〈0.001) after $100{\mu}l/ml$ Jakyakgamchotang. In rat tracheal smooth muscle, the mean percent inhibition of acetylcholine induced contraction was 22.1% (p〈0.05) after $100{\mu}l/ml$ Jakyakgamchotang. Propranolol indomethacin and methylene blue($10^{-7}M$) slightly but significantly attenuated the inhibitory effects of Jakyakgamchotang. These results indicate that Jakyakgamchotang can relax histamine or acetylcholine induced contraction of guinea pig and rat tracheal smooth muscle.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.334-343
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• 2016

Background: Progressed tissue culture techniques have allowed us to easily obtain mass products of tissue-cultured mountain ginseng over 100 yr old (TCMG-100). We investigated the effects of TCMG-100 extract on erectile function using in vitro and in vivo studies. Methods: To examine the relaxation effects and mechanisms of action of TCMG-100 on rabbit cavernosal strips evaluated in an organ bath. To investigate the long-term treatment effect of TCMG-100, 8-wk administration was performed. After administration of TCMG-100, intracavernosal pressure, cyclic guanosine monophosphate and nitric oxide (NO) levels of cavernosal tissue, serum testosterone level, histological observation of collagen fiber, endothelium, smooth muscle cell, and transforming growth factor-${\beta}1$ were investigated. Results: TCMG-100 extract displayed dose-dependent relaxation effects on precontracted rabbit corporal smooth muscle. The TCMG-100-induced relaxation was significantly reduced by removing the endothelium, and treatment with an NO synthase inhibitor or NO scavenger. Eight weeks of TCMG-100 administration increased intracavernosal pressure in a rat model. The levels of cyclic guanosine monophosphate and NO in the corpus callosum and serum testosterone level were also increased by TCMG-100 treatment. Furthermore, histological evaluation of collagen, smooth muscle, and endothelium showed increases in endothelium and smooth muscle, and a decrease in transforming growth factor-${\beta}1$ expression. Conclusion: These relaxation effects on corporal smooth muscle and increased erectile function suggest that TCMG-100 might be used as an alternative herbal medicine to improve erectile function.