• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.597-606
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• 2003

Although the antidepressant effects of imipramine (IMI) have been well known in several studies, the effects on cardiovascular system, particularly the vasorelaxant effects, have not known clearly. We hypothesis that IMI-induced vasorelaxation involves NO (nitrie oxide), activation of guanylate cyclase (GC) and $Ca^{2+}$ channel. The possible roles of the endothelium and $Ca^{2+}$ in IMI-induced responses were investigated using isolated rings of rat thoracic aorta and anesthesized rats. In KCl-precontracted rings. IMI produces endothelium-dependent and endothelium-independent relaxations in intact (+E) as well as endothelium-denuded (-E) rat aorta in a concentration-dependent manner. In phenylephrine (PE)-precontracted rings, the IMI-induced relaxation was significantly greater in +E rings. The IMI-induced relaxations were suppressed by nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitors, N(G)-nitro-L-arginine (L-NNA), N(omega)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) and aminoguanidine, a non-selective GC inhibitor, methylene blue, $Na^+$ channel blockers, lidocaine and procaine, or $Ca^{2+}$ channel blockers, nifedipine and verapamil, in PE-precontracted +E rings, but not in PE-precontracted -E rings. These relaxations were also suppressed by lidocaine or procaine in -E aortic rings. However, IMI-induced relaxations were not inhibited by a PLC inhibitor 2-nitro-4-carboxyphenyl-n,n-diphenylcarbamate (NCDC), an inositol monophosphatase inhibitor, lithium, indomethacin and dexamethasone in +E and -E rings. In vivo, infusion of IMI elicited significant decrease in arterial blood pressure. After intravenous injection of saponin, NOS inhibitors. MB and nifedipine, infusion of IMI inhibited the IMI-lowered blood pressure markedly. These findings suggest that the endothelium-dependent relaxation induced by IMI is mediated by activation of NO/cGMP signaling cascade or inhibition of $Ca^{2+}$ entry through voltage-gated channel, and this mechanism may contribute to the hypotensive effects of IMI in rats.

• Journal of the Korea Computer Graphics Society
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.55-61
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• 2015

In this paper, we introduce a method to synthesize realistic make-up effects on input images efficiently. In particular, we focus on shading on the make-up effects due to the lighting and face curvature. By doing this, we can synthesize a wider range of effects realistically than the previous methods. To do this, the information about lighting information together with the normal vectors on all pixels over the face region in the input image. Since the previous methods that compute lighting information and normal vectors require relatively heavy computation cost, we introduce an approach to approximate lighting information using cascade pose regression process and normal vectors by transforming, rendering, and warping a standard 3D face model. The proposed method consumes much less computation time than the previous methods. In our experiment, we show the proposed approximation technique can produce naturally looking virtual make-up effects.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.12
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• pp.6409-6413
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• 2012

The innate immune system coordinates the inflammatory response to pathogens. To do so, its cells must discriminate self from non-self utilizing receptors that identify molecules synthesized exclusively by microbes. Toll-like receptors have a crucial role in the detection of microbial infection in mammals and insects. In mammals, they have evolved to recognize conserved products unique to microbial metabolism. These include lipopolysaccharide (LPS), lipotechoic acids, and peptidoglycans (PGN). We show here that TLRs, including TLR2, are expressed on the THP-1 human leukemia cell line. Activation of TLR2 signaling in THP-1 by PGN induces the synthesis of various soluble factors and proteins including interleukin-$1{\beta}$, interleukin-8 and TNF-${\alpha}$ and apoptosis of THP-1 with PGN dose and time dependence. Moreover, in this study we show that PGN induces apoptosis of THP-1 cells in a TNF-${\alpha}$-dependent manner. These findings indicate that TLR2 signaling results in a cascade leading to tumor apoptosis and differentiation, which may suggest new clinical prospects using TLR2 agonists as cytotoxic agents in certain cancers.

• Journal of Korea Multimedia Society
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.76-87
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• 2008

As hardware performance rises, game users demand higher computer graphic, more convenient UI(User Interface), faster network, and smarter AI(Artificial Intelligence). At this time, however, AI development is accomplished by a co-development team or only one developer. For that reason, it's hard to verify that AI performance and basic game AI technology is lacking for developing high-level AI. Searching the merits and demerits of existing game AI platforms, we investigate main points to consider when designing game AI platforms in this paper. From this we suggest Darwin, a game platform, based on agent that developers embody AI easily and capable of proposing AI test with module that makes them find strategic position. And then evaluate achievement results through making agent used strategic module that Darwin offers.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.212-215
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• 2004

The complement system is important in the generation of the normal inflammatory response and in host defense against systemic infection. Therefore, inherited or acquired deficiency of complement is associated with an increased frequency of infection. As a major effector of the complement cascade, the membrane attack complex is responsible for direct complement dependent serum bactericidal activity. Especially late complement component deficiency has a markedly increased risk of meningococcal infection and is subject to recurrent infection. We experienced a patient who had recurrent meningococcal meningitis and septicemia. The patient was 13-years old boy and he had a recurrent episode after 20 months. At second admission, we examined complement level and C7 deficiency was confirmed. He was treated without complication. We report a case of deficiency of C7 with recurrent meningococcal meningitis and septicemia.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.101-109
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• 2006

The objective of this study is to provide fundamental data for pertinent management of indoor air quality through investigating the size-based characteristics of bioaerosol distributed in the general hospital. Measurement sites are main lobby, ICU, ward and laboratory and total five times were sampled with six-stage cascade impactor. Based on the result of this study, concentrations of airborne bacteria and fungi were the highest in main lobby as followed by an order of ward, ICU and laboratory. Concentrations of airborne bacteria was generally higher than those of airborne fungi and the ratio of indoor and outdoor concentration of both exceeded 1.0 in all the measurement sites of the general hospital. The predominant genera of airborne bacteria identified in the general hospital were Staphylococcus spp.(50%), Micrococcus spp.(15-20%), Corynebacterium spp.(5-20%), and Bacillus spp.(5-15%). On the other hand, the predominant genera of airborne fungi identified in the general hospital were Cladosporium spp.(30%), Penicillium spp.(20-25%), Aspergillus spp.(15-20%), and Alternaria spp.(10-20%). In regard to size distribution of bioaerosol, the detection rate was generally highest on 5 stage($1.1-2.1{\mu}m$) for airborne bacteria and on 1 stage(>$7.0{\mu}m$) for airborne fungi. Cleanliness of facilities in the general hospital and condition of HVAC system should be monitored regularly to prevent indoor air contamination by airborne microorganisms.

• Journal of Adhesion and Interface
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.15-21
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• 2015

In this study, rheological properties and flow dynamics in roll coating process of basecoat paints have been investigated for automotive precoated metal (PCM) sheet applications. Various rheological properties for basecoats with three colors (black, blue, and silver), such as shear viscosity data at room temperature and elastic/viscous moduli under thermal curing condition, have been measured using a rotational rheometer. It is found that the relative portion of function groups inside basecoats and their viscosity level have greatly affected the formation of crosslinked networks by thermal curing. Also, operability coating windows for basecoats have been established in three-roll coating process system by observing their flow instabilities such as ribbing and cascade. It is confirmed that rheological approaches applied in this study have been usefully applied to develop environmentally-friendly PCM coating technology and optimally control the coating operations for non-Newtonian PCM paints.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.116-124
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• 2001

Nitric oxide is a labile, gaseous, broad spectrum second messenger that used in various tissues and cells. If it is induced by endogenously and exogenously in the neuronal cells, it is able to mediate analgesia or hyperalgesia at the periphery and in the spinal level respectively. This dual role of nitric oxide in the sensory system is very intriguing but has not been fully understood yet. In this experiment, acetylcholine (300 $\mu$g/paw), sodium nitroprusside (600 $\mu$g/paw), and L-arginine (300 $\mu$g/paw) represented antinociceptive effect to noxious topical stimulus, but pronociceptive responses followed by spinally application (20$\mu$g/5$\mu$l, 10$\mu$g/3$\mu$l, 500$\mu$g/5$\mu$l respectively). Calcium ion is critical element which activates nitric oxide synthase, therefore verapamil (300 $\mu$g/paw) and NOS inhibitor (20 mg/kg, L-NAME or L-NOArg) are injected into right hind paw (i.pl.). When verapamil is combined with NOS inhibitors analgesic effects through NO-cGMP pathway are inhibited as compared with ACh alone. Diluted formalin (2.5%), when injected into rats'hind paw (0.05 ml), elicited a biphasic algesic responses and nitric oxide had an analgesic effect on both $A\delta$ and C sensory nerve fibers which manipulate the phases respective1y. Nitric oxides, which produced from constitutive nitric oxide synthase, activated cyclooxygenase-type I and then prostaglandins are produced from them. So, indomethacin and ibuprofen, inhibitors of COX$_1$enzyme, when pretreated intraperitoneally (100 mg/kg) could reduce the hyperalgesic state. From these results, it is possible to imagine that the intrathecally administered NO donors expressed hyperalgesia through both long-term potentiation mechanism and arachidonic acid-prostaglandin cascade.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.13 no.1_2
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• pp.43-53
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• 1998

Ambient air levels of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons(PAHs) are of concern because of their potential for adverse health effects including transformation of some of these substances to mutagens and carcinogens by mammalian microsomal enzyme system. Airbone particulate samples were collected by a conventional high-volume sampler and by an Anderson cascade impactor on 2 to 3 days in each month over a period of 1 year at a representative site of the heavy traffic area of Seoul from beptember 1994 to August 1995. Ten individual PAHs in sizable air particulates of each stage of two months were separated and analyzed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. As a results of analysis, the gross concentrations of PAHs in the fine and coarse particles were higher in the winter month than in the spring, followed in descending order by in the fall and summer. In a study of dependency of 10 PAHs compounds on size distribution of particles at heavy traffic area found that about 85% of the total PAHs content was associated with particles less than 2.0um (fine particles) in diameter of winter sampling period. while 79% were associated with this size fraction during summer period. In according to the mean concentrations of the 10 PAHs in 7 size classification from < 0.38 to> 10.1, the 'size was the smaller, PAHs concentration was the higher. Thus it was found that PAHs concentration was greatly affected by air particle size. Annual mean benzo(a)pyrene equivalents was 5.88ng/m$^3$ and obtained by applying, toxic equivalency factor developed by Nisbet and Lagoy.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.170-175
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• 2009

For the emergency radiation monitoring using gamma spectrometry, we should sufficiently survey the background spectra as environmental samples with systematic nuclide identification method. In this study, we obtained the gamma ray energy spectrum using a HPGe gamma spectrometry system from an air sample. And we identified nuclide of the gamma ray energy peaks in the spectrum using two methods -1) Half life calculation and 2) survey for cascade coincidence summing peaks using nuclear data. As the results, we produced the nuclide identification results for the air sample.