• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.26
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• pp.6.1-6.8
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• 2011

Objectives: The present study investigated the potential adverse effects of multi-wall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) on pregnant dams and embryonic development following maternal exposure in rats. Methods: MWCNTs were orally administered to pregnant rats from gestational day (GD) 6 through 19 at dose levels of 0, 8, 40, 200, and 1000 mg/kg/day. During the test period, clinical signs, mortality, body weights, food consumption, serum biochemistry, oxidant-antioxidant status, gross findings, organ weights, and Caesarean section findings were examined. Results: All animals survived to the end of the study. A decrease in thymus weight was observed in the highest dose group. However, maternal body weight, food consumption, serum biochemical parameters, and oxidant-antioxidant balance in the kidneys were not affected by treatment with MWCNTs. No treatment-related differences in gestational index, embryo-fetal mortality, or fetal and placental weights were observed between treated and control groups. Conclusions: The results show that 14-day repeated oral dosing of MWCNTs during pregnancy induces minimal maternal toxicity at 1000 mg/kg/day in rats. Under these experimental conditions, the no-observed-adverse-effect level of MWCNTs is considered to be 200 mg/kg/day for dams and 1000 mg/kg/day for embryonic development.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.445-449
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• 2020

Non-volatile memory is approaching its fundamental limits with the Si₃N₄ storage layer, necessitating the use of alternative materials to achieve a higher programming/erasing speed, larger storage window, and better data retention at lower operating voltage. This limitation has restricted the development of the charge-trap memory, but can be addressed by using high-k dielectrics. The paper reviews the doping of nitrogen, titanium, and yttrium on high-k dielectrics as a storage layer by comparing MONOS devices with different storage layers. The results show that nitrogen doping increases the storage window of the Gd₂O₃ storage layer and improves its charge retention. Titanium doping can increase the charge capture rate of HfO₂ storage layer. Yttrium doping increases the storage window of the BaTiO₃ storage layer and improves its fatigue characteristics. Parameters such as the dielectric constant, leakage current, and speed of the memory device can be controlled by maintaining a suitable amount of external impurities in the device.

• The Transactions of The Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers
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• v.58 no.11
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• pp.2209-2213
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• 2009

$REBa_{2}Cu_{3}O_{7-d}$(REBCO) coated conductors(REBCO CCs) have been studied for electric power applications which require high current density wires. As long as the critical transition temperature(Tc) is concerned, REBCO CCs with large $RE^{3+}$ ions have been expected to have better current transport properties than those with smaller $RE^{3+}$ ions. For this reason, REBCO's with large $RE^{3+}$ ions which include GdBCO, NdBCO and SmBCO have been mainly considered as the superconducting layer of CCs. On the other hand, REBCO's with smaller $RE^{3+}$ions are expected to have advantages in the fabrication process of CCs because of the lower melting temperature. But it has not yet been made clear which REBCO is the most suitable for the superconducting layer of CCs. In this study, we investigated the current transport properties of REBCO CCs with small $RE^{3+}$ ion and advantages of using that in the CC fabrication process. Thin films of TmBCO, which has smaller $RE^{3+}$ion than most other $RE^{3+}$ ions, were fabricated on buffered metal substrate as the superconducting layer of CC by PLD process. TmBCO CC shows critical current density (Jc (77 K, sf) = $2.3\;MA/cm^2$) high enough to be utilized for application in electric power devices. Compared with previous experiments using the same PLD system, deposition temperature was approximately $20^{\circ}C$ lower than NdBCO thin films on buffered metal substrates.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.555-558
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• 2000

Crowth of an angiolipoma of the central nervous system is rare. Only about 60 cases were searched in the literature. We report one case of spinal angiolipoma recently treated in our institution. A 67-year-old man was admitted because of burning sensation on the both lower extremities and paraparesis. He felt burning sensation on the both great toes and it progressively involved to thighs and inguinal area during the past 1 year which gradually worsened. MR image showed a spinal mass lesion at the level of T4 to T6. The lesion was isodense and hyperdense in periphery on T1-weighted image and hyperintense on T2-weighted image. The tumor was located on the posterior area of the spinal cord and markedly enhanced after intravenous Gd-DTPA. At the operation, a soft, dark-red mass was totally removed. On histological examination, the tumor was shown to be mainly composed of mature fatty cells and numerous blood vessels with enlarged lumens. Postoperative course was uneventful and the symptoms improved gradually.

• Journal of the Korean institute of surface engineering
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• v.51 no.4
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• pp.249-255
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• 2018

High temperature and low temperature gaseous nitriding was performed in order to study of the surface hardening and wear properties of the nitrided AISI 410 Martensitic stainless steels. High temperature gaseous nitiridng (HTGN) was carried out using partial pressure $N_2$ gas at $1,100^{\circ}C$ for 10 hour, and Low temperature gaseous nitiridng (LTGN) was conducted in a gas mixture of NH3 and N2 at $470^{\circ}C$ for 10 hour. The nitrided samples were characterized by microhardness measurements, optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The phases were identified by X-ray diffraction and nitrogen concentration was analyzed by GD-OES. The HTGN specimen had a surface hardness of about $700HV_{0.1}$, $350{\mu}m$ of case depth. A ${\sim}50{\mu}m$ thick, $1,250HV_{0.1}$ hard nitrided case formed at the surface of the AISI 410 steel by LTGN, composed nitrogen supersaturated expanded martensite and ${\varepsilon}-Fe_{24}N_{10}$ iron nitrides. Additionally, the results of the wear tests, carried out LTGN specimen was low friction coefficient and high worn mass loss of ball. The increase in wear resistance can be mainly attributed to the increase in hardness and to the lattice distortion caused by higher nitrogen concentration.

• Geosciences Journal
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.975-987
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• 2018

Stable isotope ratios of $^{18}O/^{16}O$ and $^{13}C/^{12}C$ and rare earth elements geochemistry of the Upper Triassic carbonates from the Baluti Formation in Kurdistan Region of Northern Iraq were studied in two areas, Sararu and Sarki. The aim of the study is to quantify the possible diagenetic processes that postdated deposition and the paleoenvironment of the Baluti Formation. The replacement products of the skeletal grains by selective dissolution and neomorphism probably by meteoric water preserved the original marine isotopic signatures possibly due to the closed system. The petrographic study revealed the existence of foraminifers, echinoderms, gastropods, crinoids, nodosaria and ostracods as major framework constituents. The carbonates have micritic matrix with microsparite and sparry calcite filling the pores and voids. The range and average values for twelve carbonate rocks of ${\delta}^{18}O$ and ${\delta}^{13}C$ in Sararu section were -5.3‰ to -3.16‰ (-4.12‰) and -2.94‰ to -0.96‰ (-1.75‰), respectively; while the corresponding values for the Sarki section were -3.69‰ to -0.39‰ (-2.08‰) and -5.34‰ to -2.70‰ (-4.02‰), respectively. The bivariate plot of ${\delta}^{18}O$ and ${\delta}^{13}C$ suggests that most of these carbonates are warm-water skeletons and have meteoric cement. The average ${\Sigma}REE$ content and Eu-anomaly of the carbonates of Sararu sections were 44.26 ppm and 1.03, respectively, corresponding to 22.30 ppm and 0.93 for the Sarki section. The normalized patterns for the carbonate rocks exhibit: (1) non-seawater-like REE patterns, (2) positive Gd anomalies (average = 1.112 for Sararu and 1.114 for Sarki), (3) super chondritic Y/Ho ratio is 31.48 for Sararu and 31.73 for Sarki which are less than the value of seawater. The presence of sparry calcite cement, negative $^{13}C$ and $^{18}O$ isotope values, the positive Eu anomaly in the REE patterns (particularly for Sararu), eliminated Ce anomaly ($Ce/Ce^{\ast}$: 0.916-1.167, average = 0.994 and 0.950-1.010, average = 0.964, respectively), and Er/Nd values propose that these carbonates have undergone meteoric diagenesis. The REE patterns suggest that the terrigenous materials of the Baluti were derived from felsic to intermediate rocks.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.13 no.6
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• pp.620-624
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• 1992

The analytical performance of glow discharge mass spectrometer (GD-MS), using a flat type ion source is discussed. The efficiency of ion extraction was maximized at the distance between anode and cathode of 6 mm. At the operation condition of 4 mA, -1000 volt, and 1 mbar for the source, the optimum voltages for sampler and skimmer were40 volt and -280 volt, respectively. The intensities of Cu, Zn, and Mn were increased as a function of square root of current approximately. Korea standard reference materials (KSRM) were tested for an application study. The detection limits of most elements were obtained in the range of several ppm at the optimized operating condition. The peaks of aluminum and chromium were interfered by those of residual gases. The depth profile of nickel coated copper specimens (3, 5, 10 ${\mu}m$ thickness) were obtained by plotting time versus intensities of Ni and Cr after checking the thickness of nickel coated using a scanning electron microscope (SEM). At this moment, the sputtering rate of 0.2 ${\mu}m/min$ at the optimum operating condition was determined from the slope of the plot of time to the coating thickness. The roughness spectra of specimen's crater after 16 min, discharge were obtained using a Talysuf5m-120 roughness tester as well.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.317-325
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• 2020

The Far Eastern catfish (Silurus asotus) is an important commercial freshwater fish in Korea. Investigation of the genetic diversity of wild and cultured domestic catfish groups is essential for the restoration of fishery resources and for increasing local revenue. However, there are relatively few genetic diversity studies on wild and cultured catfish in Korea. In the present study, we analyzed the genetic diversity and association of wild and cultured catfish using five microsatellite markers. We determined that the number of alleles per locus (N_A) ranged from 9 to 25, wherein the Jeonbuk catfish demonstrated the highest mean number of alleles per locus and the cultured catfish exhibited the lowest. The average expected heterozygosity (He) of the wild catfish samples was 0.907, and that of the cultured catfish showed was 0.875. The genetic distances (GD value) among populations of all catfish ranged from 0.138 to 0.242. Jeonnam and Jeonbuk wild catfish were located closest to each other, and the cultured group was separated from the other groups. In conclusion, the present study confirmed that the genetic diversity of wild and cultured catfish was maintained at a high level. In the case of the wild group, it is effective in maintaining diversity due to the continuous fry release by the local fish research institute. However, the genetic diversity of cultured catfish declined. Low diversity is associated with slow growth and weakened immunity, and therefore continuous monitoring is necessary.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.45 no.6
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• pp.683-694
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• 2021

Background: Ginsenoside Rg1 (Rg1) has been well documented to be effective against various cardiovascular disease. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of Rg1 on mechanical stress-induced cardiac injury and its possible mechanism with a focus on the calcium sensing receptor (CaSR) signaling pathway. Methods: Mechanical stress was implemented on rats through abdominal aortic constriction (AAC) procedure and on cardiomyocytes and cardiac fibroblasts by mechanical stretching with Bioflex Collagen I plates. The effects of Rg1 on cell hypertrophy, fibrosis, cardiac function, [Ca²⁺]_i, and the expression of CaSR and calcineurin (CaN) were assayed both on rat and cellular level. Results: Rg1 alleviated cardiac hypertrophy and fibrosis, and improved cardiac decompensation induced by AAC in rat myocardial tissue and cultured cardiomyocytes and cardiac fibroblasts. Importantly, Rg1 treatment inhibited CaSR expression and increase of [Ca²⁺]_i, which similar to the CaSR inhibitor NPS2143. In addition, Rg1 treatment inhibited CaN and TGF-b1 pathways activation. Mechanistic analysis showed that the CaSR agonist GdCl₃ could not further increase the [Ca²⁺]_i and CaN pathway related protein expression induced by mechanical stretching in cultured cardiomyocytes. CsA, an inhibitor of CaN, inhibited cardiac hypertrophy, cardiac fibrosis, [Ca²⁺]_i and CaN signaling but had no effect on CaSR expression. Conclusion: The activation of CaN pathway and the increase of [Ca²⁺]_i mediated by CaSR are involved in cardiac hypertrophy and fibrosis, that may be the target of cardioprotection of Rg1 against myocardial injury.

• 한국노년학
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.81-91
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• 2010

The purpose of this study was to test a validity and reliability of Cognitive Performance Scale(CPS), a cognitive measure generated from 5 items(comatose status, decision making, short-term memory, making self understood, and eating). Method: 393 patients in 2 hospitals for the elderly with dementia were measured with CPS by two nurses independently. The inter-rater agreement was tested by comparing two scores. The CPS score was compared with GDS, which was measured by doctors and nurses, and MMSE score which was drawn from the claim data of Health Insurance Review & Assessment Service. Result: The correlation coefficient between CPS and GDS was 0.742(p<0.0001), CPS and MMSE was -0.794(p<0.0001). The Cronbach's coefficient alpha of CPS was 0.742, Kappa value was 0.772~1.000. The CPS showed high validity and reliability in long term care hospitals of Korea.