• Journal of the Institute of Electronics and Information Engineers
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• v.53 no.7
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• pp.110-120
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• 2016

A power-efficient neuromodulator is needed for implantable systems. In spite of their stimulation signal's simplicity of wave shape and waiting time of MCU(micro controller unit) much longer than execution time, there is no consideration for low-power design. In this paper, we propose a novel of low-power algorithm based on the characteristics of stimulation signals. Then, we designed and implement a neuromodulation software that we call NMS(neuro modulation simulation). In order to implement low-power algorithm, first, we analyze running time of every function in existing NMS. Then, we calculate execution time and waiting time for these functions. Subsequently, we estimate the transition time between active mode (AM) and low-power mode (LPM). By using these results, we redesign the architecture of NMS in the proposed low-power algorithm: a stimulation signal divided into a number of segments by using characteristics of the signal from which AM or LPM segments are defined for determining the MCU power reduces to turn off or not. Our experimental results indicate that NMS with low-power algorithm reducing current consumption of MCU by 76.31 percent compared to NMS without low-power algorithm.

• Korean Journal of Cognitive Science
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.51-75
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• 2022

Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a non-invasive brain stimulation that is able to alter neuronal activity in particular brain regions. Many studies have researched how tDCS modulates neuronal activity and reorganizes neural networks. However it is difficult to conclude the effect of brain stimulation because the studies are heterogeneous with respect to the stimulation parameter as well as individual difference. It is not fully in agreement with the effects of brain stimulation. In particular few studies have researched the reason of variability of brain stimulation in response to time so far. The study investigated individual variability of brain stimulation based on circadian rhythm and chronotype. Participants were divided into two groups which are morning type and evening type. The experiment was conducted by Zoom meeting which is video meeting programs. Participants were sent experiment tool which are Muse(EEG device), tdcs device, cell phone and cell phone holder after manuals for experimental equipment were explained. Participants were required to make a phone in frount of a camera so that experimenter can monitor online EEG data. Two participants who was difficult to use experimental devices experimented in a laboratory setting where experimenter set up devices. For all participants the accuracy of 98% was achieved by SVM using leave one out cross validation in classification in the the effects of morning stimulation and the evening stimulation. For morning type, the accuracy of 92% and 96% was achieved in classification in the morning stimulation and the evening stimulation. For evening type, it was 94% accuracy in classification for the effect of brain stimulation in the morning and the evening. Feature importance was different both in classification in the morning stimulation and the evening stimulation for morning type and evening type. Results indicated that the effect of brain stimulation can be explained with brain state and trait. Our study results noted that the tDCS protocol for target state is manipulated by individual differences as well as target state.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.30-35
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• 2005

Purpose : The purpose of this study is to observe the blood oxygen level dependent (BOLD) contrast changes due to the reaction of human brain at a gustatory sense in response to a salty-taste stimulation. Materials and Methods : Twelve healthy, non-smoking, right-handed male subjects (mean age: 25.6, range: 23-28 years) participated in this salty-taste stimulus functional magnetic resonance (fMRI) study. MRI scans were performed with 1.57 GE Signa, using a multi-slice GE-EPI sequence according to a blood-oxy-gen-level dependent (BOLD) experiment paradigm. Scan parameters included matrix size $128\times128$, FOV 250 mm, TR 5000 msec, TE 60 msec, TH/GAP 5/2 mm. Sequential data acquisitions were carried out for 42 measurements with a repetition time of 5 sec for each taste-stimulus experiments. Analysis of fMRI data was carried out using SPM99 implemented in Matlab. NaCl solution $(3\%)$ was used as a salty stimulus. The task paradigm consisted of alternating rest-stimulus cycles (30-second rest, 15-second stimulus) for 210 seconds. During the stimulus period, NaCl-solution was presented to the subject's mouth through plastic tubes as a bolus of delivered every 5 sec using -processor controlled auto-syringe pump. Results : Insula, frontal opercular taste cortex, amygdala and orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) were activated by a salty-taste stimulation $(NaCl,\;3\%)$ in the fMRI experiments. And dosolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) was also significantly responded to salty-taste stimuli. Activation areas of the right side hemisphere were more superior to the left side hemisphere. Conclusion : The results of this study well correspond to the fact that both insula, amygdala, OFC, DLPFC areas are established as taste cortical areas by neuronal recordings in primates. Authors found that laboratory-developed auto-syringe pump is suitable for gustatory fMRI study. Further research in this field will accelerate to inquire into the mechanism of higher order gustatory process.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.49 no.5
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• pp.558-564
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• 2006

Purpose : Transcranial electromagnetic stimulation(TMS) is a noninvasive method which stimulates the central nervous system through pulsed magnetic fields without direct effect on the neurons. Although the neurobiologic mechanisms of magnetic stimulation are unknown, the effects on the brain are variable according to the diverse stimulation protocols. This study aims to observe the effect of the magnetic stimulation with two different stimulation methods on the cultured hippocampal slices. Methods : We obtained brains from 8-days-old Spague-Dawley rats and dissected the hippocampal tissue under the microscope. Then we chopped the tissue into 450 µm thickness slices and cultured the hippocampal tissue by Stoppini's method. We divided the inserts, which contained five healthy cultured hippocampal slices respectively, into magnetic stimulation groups and a control group. To compare the different effects according to the frequency of magnetic stimulation, stimulation was done every three days from five days in vitro at 0.67 Hz in the low stimulation group and at 50 Hz in the high stimulation group. After N-methyl-D-aspartate exposure to the hippocampal slices at 14 days in vitro, magnetic stimulation was done every three days in one and was not done in another group. To evaluate the neuronal activity after magnetic stimulation, the $NeuN/{\beta}$-actin ratio was calculated after western blotting in each group. Results : The expression of NeuN in the magnetic stimulation group was stronger than that of the control group, especially in the high frequency stimulation group. After N-methyl-D-aspartate exposure to hippocampal slices, the expression of NeuN in the magnetic stimulation group was similar to that of the control group, whereas the expression in the magnetic non-stimulation group was lower than that of the control group. Conclusion : We suggest that magnetic stimulation increases the neuronal activity in cultured hippocamal slices, in proportion to the stimulating frequency, and has a neuroprotective effect on neuronal damage.

• Proceedings of the KSMRM Conference
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• 2003.10a
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• pp.94-94
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• 2003

목적： 기능적 자기공명영상과 확산텐서영상기법을 이용하여 전음성 난청과 감각신경성 난청에서의 뇌활성화 양상 그리고 청신경경로상의 차이점을 비교 연구하고자 하였다. 대상 및 방법： 전음성 난청군 (n=4)과 감각신경성 난청군(n=5) 그리고 정상군(n=5)에서의 기능적 자기 공명영상과 확산텐서영상을 획득하였다. 기능적 자기공명영상의 경우 1.5T Siemens MR scanner에서 BOLD 기법을 이용하여 500 Hz 순음 청각자극에 대한 뇌활성화 영역을 검출하였고 영상촬영시 발생하는 기계적 소음을 차폐하기 위한 청각자극기를 특별히 제작하여 사용하였다. 뇌백질신경로를 영상화하는 확산텐서영상은 3.0T GE whole body MR scanner를 사용하였으며 미세한 확산운동을 검출하기 위해 초고속 영상기법인 EPI 기법을 사용하였다. 영상의 화질을 높이기 위해 공간적으로 25개의 다른 방향으로 확산경사자장을 가하였다. 청신경로의 비등방성 영상, 신경로 방향 영상등을 구현하기 위해 획득한 확산영상들에 대한 영상 후처리과정을 시행하였다.

• The Korean Journal of Zoology
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.161-173
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• 1994

면역효소법을 이용하여 3종의 한국산 개구리 참개구리(Rono nigromaculuto), 옴개구리(R. rugosa), 북방산개구리(R. 겨대bowskii)의 뇌에서 GnRH 뉴우런의 분포 부위와 GnRH의 종류 등을 연구하였다. 1차 항체로는 anti-rat GnRH, anti-salmon GnRH anti-chicken 11 GnRH 항체를 사용하였다. 3종의 개구리에서 mGnRH cGnRH 11와 sGnRH가 이둔 동정되었으나 3가지 항체에 대한 각 종의 면역 반응성은 종에 따라 달리 나타났다 mGnRH는 옴개구리와 참개구리에서, sGnRH는 북방산개구리에서 강한 면역 반응을 나타냈으며 cGnRH 11는 3종의 개구리에서 중간 정도의 면역 반응을 나타냈다. 각각의 GnRH의 상대적인 양에는 차이가 있으나 일부 경우를 제외하고는 뇌의 동일한 지역에 분포하였다. 참개구리에서는 GnRH가 중격 내측핵(NMS), Broca band 핵(NDB)에 집단으로 분포하였다. 북방산개구리에서는 GnRH가 중격 내측핵, Broca bnad 핵에서 등쪽에서 배쪽으로 길게 선상으로 가장 협소하게 분포하였으며, 번식기와 직전(1월-3월)에만 면역 반응을 나타냈다. 옴개구리의 뇌에서 가장 광범위한 지역, 즉 종뇌의 중격 내측핵, Broca band 핵, 아래 교차 지역(SCA)과 간뇌에 GnRH 신경세포가 분포하였으며. 제3뇌실 맥락얼기에서 mGnRH 신경세포가 처음으로 동정되었다. 3종에서 공통적으로 중격 내측핵과 Broca band 핵에서 유래한 신경섬유는 복측 시상하부를 거쳐 정중융기에 이르렀다. 이러한 결과는 GnRH가 뇌하수체에서 생식소 자극 호르몬의 분비 조절에 밀접한 관계가 있음을 뜻한다.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.91-99
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• 2001

뇌 손상 후 급성기에 기능의 자발적인 회복이 일어나지만 환자들은 환측의 상지를 잘 사용하지 못하게 된다. 그 결과 원하는 움직임을 억제하는 상황을 발생시키는데 이것을 학습 무사용 증후군(learned nonu se syndrome)이라 한다. 이러한 학습 무사용 증후군을 치료하기 위해 억제-유도 치료(constraint-induced therapy)가 고안되었다. 억제-유도 치료는 연속되는 몇 주간에 걸쳐 매일 많은 시간 동안 건측의 상지를 묶어두고 환측 상지를 사용하게 하여 기능을 반복 학습하게 함으로써 기능을 증진시키는 방법이다. 이미 여러 연구자들이 경두개 자기자극(transcranial magnetic stimulation), 움직임 관련 피질전위(movement-related cortical potential), 기능적 자기공명 영상기법(functional magnetic resonance imaging) 등을 통하여 억제-유도 치료 후 운동피질영역에서의 재조직화를 보고함으로써 기능 증진과 관련된 회복 기전을 뒷받침하고 있다. 억제-유도 치료의 영역은 확대되어 뇌졸중, 척수손상, 고관절 치환술 후로 하지에서의 기능증진을 위하여 연구가 진행되고 있으며 특히 뇌졸중 후 실어증 환자에서 새로운 방법으로 제시되고 있다. 따라서, 억제-유도 치료는 신경학적인 손상 후 움직임의 재활에 있어서 치료-유도를 통한 중추신경계의 회복에 효과적으로 작용할 수 있다.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Applied Pharmacology
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• 1995.04a
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• pp.95-95
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• 1995

뇌신경 변성 / 퇴행과 관련된 중요한 병인론 중의 하나는 변성 과정에서 형성된 유리기(free radical)로 인한 항산화계의 평형 소실로 알려져 있다. Aspalatone (APT)의 예상되는 항산화 효능을 검정하기 위하여 본 실험에서는 Kainic acid (KA) 유발 뇌변성 모델을 적용하였다. KA 모델은 변연계의 간질성 경련과 신경세포 변성에 대하여 재현성 있는 병변 모델을 제공해 주며, 이와 같은 신경세포의 병독 기전에 산소 유리기가 관여함이 강력히 시사되고 있기 때문이다. KA 투여로 인하여 지속적이고도 전형적인 간질성 경련이 관찰되고 1일 이내에 높은 치사율을 보였으나 APT으로 인하여 그 간질성 경련 행위와 비율이 억제되고 KA 유발 치사율도 억제되었다. 최종 KA 투여 3일 후에 얻어진 흰쥐 해마 및 대뇌 피질에서 항산화 효소인 Superoxide dismutase (SOD), Catalase (Cat.), Glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX) 및 과산화지질의 지표인 Malondialdehyde (MDA)를 검정하였다. 대조군에 비하여 KA는 뇌조직의 SOD-1을 유도하였으나, Cat.와 GSH-PX의 활성은 현저히 유도되지 않았고, 반면에 MDA 치는 현저히 증가하였다. 즉, Cat., GSH-PX와 같은 $H_2O$$_2$중화제가 동반 유도하지 않는 SOD의 유도는 세포내 축적되는 $H_2O$$_2$로 인하여 Fenton/Haber-Weiss 반응을 가속화하여 과산화지질화를 촉진함을 시사한다. APT 병용 투여로 SOD는 현저히 유도되지 않았으나 특히 Cat.가 현저히 유도되어지고 MDA는 억제되었다. 이와 같은 생화학적인 결과는 다음의 형태학적인 소견과 일치한다. Fos 관련 항원 (FRA)와 SOD-1을 면역세포화학 (Immunocytochemistry)적 방법으로 이중 표식 (double-labelling) 하였다. FRA는 KA로 인한 신경세포의 자극에 대한 지표로 응용하였고, SOD-1은 퇴행성 뇌질환에서 산화적 손상의 지표로 사용하였다. KA 투여로 해마의 dentate gyrus (DG) 내에 강한 면역환성 (immunoreactivity)이 나타났고 pyramidal cell layer (PCL)와 glia에 SOD-1이 강하게 염색되었다. APT 병용 투여로 상당수의 경련이 일어나지 않은 흰쥐는 해마의 DG에 FRA가 경미하게 염색되었고, PCL에 SOD-1도 경미하게 나타났으나, 경련이 나타난 쥐에서는 KA만을 투여한 흰쥐와 구별되지 않았다. 이상의 APT의 항산화 효과는 KA로 인한 뇌세포 변성 개선에 중요한 인자로 작용할 것으로 사료되나, 보다 명확한 APT의 기전을 검색하고 직접 임상에 응응하기 위하여는 보다 다양한 실험 조건이 보완되어야 찰 것으로 생각된다.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.3-11
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• 2003

Attention-deficit/Hyperactivity disorder(ADHD) is the most common psychiatric disorder of childhood and among the most prevalent chronic health conditions affecting school-aged children. Children with ADHD experience significant functional problems, such as school difficulties, academic underachievement, troublesome interpersonal relationships with family members and peers, and low self-esteem. The most widely used pharmacological treatments for ADHD are psychostimulants, such as methylphenidate and amphetamine salts. These medications provide clinical efficacy by increasing the availability of catecholamines, primarily dopamine, in the frontal lobe of the brain. immediate-release(IR) formulations of sychostimulants were among the most effective psychotrophic medications in the psychopharmacological treatment. However, there are some limitations of IR formulations：the short half-life and duration of efficacy, which result in the need for multiple daily dosing and the poor compliance. These limitations have led to the development of once-daily, extended-release(ER) formulations of methylphenidate and amphetamine salts. However, these ER formulations may not be as immediately helpful to ADHD children due to delayed onset of action and the acute tolerance which is the failure to sustain the efficacy with the same concentration of drug as the initial stage of medication. OROS-methylphenidate(Concerta$^{\circledR}$) given once a day produces an ascending-pattern plasma drug level generated by the osmotically released, timed drug-delivery system. These new formulations of the psychostimulants have been shown to be a useful alternative to old stimulant medications through the evidence by the clinical trials.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.383-391
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• 1995

In order to find out the distribution of neuropeptide Y (NPY) recently known as the gonadotropin (GtH) stimulation neurohormone in the brain tissues of marine teleost, detection and localization of NPY like substance in brain of two rockfish species, Sebastes oblongus and S. schlekeli were done by immunohistochemisty. Distribution of GtH cells in hypophysis were also observed by aldehyde fuchsin (AF)-fast green-orange G stain to compare with gonadal phases of the rockfish species. NPY immunoreactive cells were detected in olfactory bulb, telencephalon and mesencephalon of the brain, and NPY immunoreactive fibers were distributed not only in olfactory bulb, telencephalon and mesencephalon but also in optic nerve, hypothalamus and optic tectum. Regardless of ovarian maturation in two rockfish species, NPY immunoreactive fibers were observed in the neurohypophysis adjacent to the AF negative cells in the rostral pars distalis of hypophysis in both species. Moreover, the fibers were distributed in the rostral and proximal pars distalis near to the GtH cells of the hypophysis in both species possessing the growing or mature oocytes. Slight AF stainable GtH cells were detected in hypophysis of two species before parturition (S. oblongus) and in mature stage (S. schlegeli), but AF stainability of the cells in the proximal pars distalis after parturition was more increased than that of the cells Tn mature stage or before parturition. The size and nucleus diameter of GtH cells in S. oblongus and S. schlegeli before parturition were significantly bigger than those of GtH cells in individuals after parturiton (S. oblongus) or with resting ovary (S. schlegeli) (P<0.01).