• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.172-181
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• 2015

Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (SOFC) continue to be among the most promising alternative energy devices. This paper addresses i-V characteristics of SOFC with a focus on air flow rate along the planar anode electrodes. To address this, detailed Butler-Volmer kinetics are implemented in a general-purpose CFD code FLUENT. The numerical results were validated against experimental data from the literature showing excellent match with i-V polarization data ranging 1V-0.4V. Numerical calculations of fuel cell operation under different flow rare conditions were performed in three-dimensional geometries. Results are presented in terms of concentration distribution of hydrogen, oxygen, and water. The simulations and results indicate that advanced CFD with UDF(User-Defined Function) of Butler-Volmer kinetics can be used to identify the conditions leading to air flow rate and specific surface area and guide development of operating conditions and improve the fuel cell system performance.

• Journal of the Institute of Electronics Engineers of Korea SC
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• v.47 no.5
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• pp.52-61
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• 2010

The use of the friction coefficient is known to provide good discrimination ability in the classification of human constitutions, which are used in alternative medicine. In this study, a system that uses a multi-axis load cell and a hemi-circular probe is designed. The equipment consists of a sensor (load cell type, manufactured by the authors), an x-axis linear-bush guide motorized mobile stage that supports the hand being analyzed, and a signal conditioner. Using the proposed system, the friction coefficients from different constitutions were compared, and the relative repeatability error for the friction coefficient measurement was determined to be less than 2 %. The direction along the ring finger line was determined to be the optimum measurement region for a constitutional diagnosis between Tae-eumin and Soyangin types using the proposed system. There were some differences in the friction coefficient between the two constitutions, as reported in ancient literature. The proposed system is applicable to a quantitative constitutional diagnosis between Tae-eumin and Soyangin types within an acceptable level of uncertainty.

• Biomaterials Research
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.337-345
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• 2018

Background: Human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) are, due to their pluripotency, useful sources of cells for stem cell therapy and tissue regeneration. The phenotypes of hMSCs are strongly influenced by their microenvironment, in particular the extracellular matrix (ECM), the composition and structure of which are important in regulating stem cell fate. In reciprocal manner, the properties of ECM are remodeled by the hMSCs, but the mechanism involved in ECM remodeling by hMSCs under topographical stimulus is unclear. In this study, we therefore examined the effect of nanotopography on the expression of ECM proteins by hMSCs by analyzing the quantity and structure of the ECM on a nanogrooved surface. Methods: To develop the nanoengineered, hMSC-derived ECM, we fabricated the nanogrooves on a coverglass using a UV-curable polyurethane acrylate (PUA). Then, hMSCs were cultivated on the nanogrooves, and the cells at the full confluency were decellularized. To analyze the effect of nanotopography on the hMSCs, the hMSCs were re-seeded on the nanoengineered, hMSC-derived ECM. Results: hMSCs cultured within the nano-engineered hMSC-derived ECM sheet showed a different pattern of expression of ECM proteins from those cultured on ECM-free, nanogrooved surface. Moreover, hMSCs on the nano-engineered ECM sheet had a shorter vinculin length and were less well-aligned than those on the other surface. In addition, the expression pattern of ECM-related genes by hMSCs on the nanoengineered ECM sheet was altered. Interestingly, the expression of genes for osteogenesis-related ECM proteins was downregulated, while that of genes for chondrogenesis-related ECM proteins was upregulated, on the nanoengineered ECM sheet. Conclusions: The nanoengineered ECM influenced the phenotypic features of hMSCs, and that hMSCs can remodel their ECM microenvironment in the presence of a nanostructured ECM to guide differentiation into a specific lineage.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.117-123
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• 2023

Background: We investigated the impact of 0.35 T magnetic field on dose calculation for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) stereotactic ablative radiotherapy (SABR) in the ViewRay system (ViewRay Inc.), which features a simultaneous use of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to guide radiotherapy for an improved targeting of tumors. Materials and Methods: Here, we present a comprehensive analysis of the effects induced by the 0.35 T magnetic field on various characteristics of SABR plans including the plan qualities and dose calculation for the planning target volume, organs at risk, and outer/inner shells. Therefore, two SABR plans were set up, one with a 0.35 T magnetic field applied during radiotherapy and another in the absence of the field. The dosimetric parameters were calculated in both cases, and the plan quality indices were evaluated using a Monte Carlo algorithm based on a treatment planning system. Results and Discussion: Our findings showed no significant impact on dose calculation under the 0.35 T magnetic field for all analyzed parameters. Nonetheless, a significant enhancement in the dose was calculated on the skin surrounding the tumor when the 0.35 T magnetic field was applied during the radiotherapy. This was attributed to the electron return effect, which results from the deviation of the electrons ejected from tissues upon radiation due to Lorentz forces. These returned electrons re-enter the tissues, causing a local dose increase in the calculated dose. Conclusion: The present study highlights the impact of the 0.35 T magnetic field used for MRI in the ViewRay system for NSCLC SABR treatment, especially on the skin surrounding the tumors.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.9-16
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• 2012

Recently, an optics-based concentrator for solar concentration has been a key issue in development of photovoltaic systems. In the present study, a new, simple, easily producible planar concentrator based on a light guide system is proposed. In this device, solar light is concentrated by microprism optical patterns guiding the light, mainly through total reflection and refraction. The main design variables of the concentrator are the geometric concentration ratio ($R_c$) and the ${\Theta}_1$ and ${\Theta}_2$ of the microprism pattern. Ray tracing was simulated using commercial software, SPEOS, and the optical efficiencies of the light guide solar concentrator were predicted in each case. The predicted maximum optical efficiencies are 65.60%, 54.78%, and 46.78%, respectively, for $R_c$ values of 4, 5, and 6. The variation of the optical efficiencies according to ${\Theta}_1$, ${\Theta}_2$, and the incline angle of the incident light were predicted.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.4 no.3
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• pp.268-279
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• 1994

The x-ray powtler pattern of single phase $Bi_2S_2CaCu_2O_{8+x}$ has been identified and fullyindexed using a pseudotetragonal subcell with a= 5.408, c = 30.83 $\AA$ and an incommensurate supercellwith reciprocal lattice vector, X$q^*$, given by $q^*=0.211b^*-c^*$. The x -ray powder pattern of the Pb-free110K superconductor phase "$Bi_2S_2CaCu_2O_{10+x}$" has many lines which belong t.o an incommensuratesupercell. Using elect.ron d~ffraction pImt.ographs as a indexing guide, an indexing scheme for the powderpattern has been obtained. The unit cell has a geometrically orthorhombic subcell a=5.411, b= 5.420, c=37.29(2) $\AA$. Supercell reflections have indices that are derived from the subcell k, 1 indices by addition uf$\pm q^*$, where $\pm q^*=0.211b^*-0.78c^*$The incommensurate con~ponent In the b dwection, $\delta$, is the same for both phases but on going from2212 to 2223 phase, the superlattic component in the c direction changes from commensurate($\varepsilon$=1) toincommensurate($\varepsilon$=0.78).X>$\varepsilon$=0.78).

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.339-346
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• 2000

Background : The moot important prognostic factor in non-small cell lung cancer is the TNM stage. Even after complete resection in early non-small cell lung cancer, the five-year survival rate is still low. However, new prognostic factors, including molecular biologic factors, have recently been found to guide the treatment of patients with non-small cell lung cancer. We evaluated the prognostic value of the loss of blood-group antigen A in tumor tissue, which has been implicated as an important prognostic factor for overall survival and the timing of the disease progression. Methods : The loss of blood-group antigen A was assessed immunohistochemically in paraffin-embedded tumor samples from 26 patients with blood types A or AB, who had undergone curative surgery. Monoclonal antibody was used to detect the blood group antigen A expression. Results : Fifteen patients (58%) expressed antigen A in their tumor tissue, whereas 11 patients (42%) did not show antigen A. The median survival time of the blood A antigen positive group was 11 months, while the median survival time of the blood A antigen negative group was 18 months. The difference in survival between the two groups was not statistically significant. Conclusion : The loss of blood-group antigen A in tumor tissue was not found to be a significant prognostic factor in patients with non-small cell lung cancer. This study needs to be extended for further evaluation.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.195-207
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• 2006

Stem cells are the primordial, initial cells which usually divide asymmetrically giving rise to on the one hand self-renewals and on the other hand progenitor cells with potential for differentiation. Zygote (fertilized egg), with totipotency, deserves the top-ranking stem cell - he totipotent stem cell (TSC). Both the ICM (inner cell mass) taken from the 6 days-old human blastocyst and ESC (embryonic stem cell) derived from the in vitro cultured ICM have slightly less potency for differentiation than the zygote, and are termed pluripotent stem cells. Stem cells in the tissues and organs of fetus, infant, and adult have highly reduced potency and committed to produce only progenitor cells for particular tissues. These tissue-specific stem cells are called multipotent stem cells. These tissue-specific/committed multipotent stem cells, when placed in altered environment other than their original niche, can yield cells characteristic of the altered environment. These findings are certainly of potential interest from the clinical, therapeutic perspective. The controversial terminology 'somatic stem cell plasticity' coined by the stem cell community seems to have been proved true. Followings are some of the recent knowledges related to the stem cell. Just as the tissues of our body have their own multipotent stem cells, cancerous tumor has undifferentiated cells known as cancer stem cell (CSC). Each time CSC cleaves, it makes two daughter cells with different fate. One is endowed with immortality, the remarkable ability to divide indefinitely, while the other progeny cell divides occasionally but lives forever. In the cancer tumor, CSC is minority being as few as 3-5% of the tumor mass but it is the culprit behind the tumor-malignancy, metastasis, and recurrence of cancer. CSC is like a master print. As long as the original exists, copies can be made and the disease can persist. If the CSC is destroyed, cancer tumor can't grow. In the decades-long cancer therapy, efforts were focused on the reducing of the bulk of cancerous growth. How cancer therapy is changing to destroy the origin of tumor, the CSC. The next generation of treatments should be to recognize and target the root cause of cancerous growth, the CSC, rather than the reducing of the bulk of tumor, Now the strategy is to find a way to identify and isolate the stem cells. The surfaces of normal as well as the cancer stem cells are studded with proteins. In leukaemia stem cell, for example, protein CD 34 is identified. In the new treatment of cancer disease it is needed to look for protein unique to the CSC. Blocking the stem cell's source of nutrients might be another effective strategy. The mystery of sternness of stem cells has begun to be deciphered. ESC can replicate indefinitely and yet retains the potential to turn into any kind of differentiated cells. Polycomb group protein such as Suz 12 repress most of the regulatory genes which, activated, are turned to be developmental genes. These protein molecules keep the ESC in an undifferentiated state. Many of the regulator genes silenced by polycomb proteins are also occupied by such ESC transcription factors as Oct 4, Sox 2, and Nanog. Both polycomb and transcription factor proteins seem to cooperate to keep the ESC in an undifferentiated state, pluripotent, and self-renewable. A normal prion protein (PrP) is found throughout the body from blood to the brain. Prion diseases such as mad cow disease (bovine spongiform encephalopathy) are caused when a normal prion protein misfolds to give rise to PrP$^{SC}$ and assault brain tissue. Why has human body kept such a deadly and enigmatic protein? Although our body has preserved the prion protein, prion diseases are of rare occurrence. Deadly prion diseases have been intensively studied, but normal prion problems are not. Very few facts on the benefit of prion proteins have been known so far. It was found that PrP was hugely expressed on the stem cell surface of bone marrow and on the cells of neural progenitor, PrP seems to have some function in cell maturation and facilitate the division of stem cells and their self-renewal. PrP also might help guide the decision of neural progenitor cell to become a neuron.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.71-76
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• 2014

There have not been many studies conducted on the seedling production, especially in plug trays, of traditional medicinal plant species. In an effort to establish guide lines for seedling production, this study investigated the effect of plug cell size on the growth and development of plug seedling of three medicinal plant species. Seeds were sown in either 128, 200, or 288-cell plug trays, containing a commercial medium. Growth and development of individual seedling was generally promoted with increasing size of a plug cell in all of the three species. The greatest biomass of the seedlings gained in a plug tray was obtained in the 288-cell trays in Perilla frutescens var. acuta Kudo and Sophora tonkinensis, and the 200-cell trays in Angelica gigas Nakai. Overall growth and development of the shoot and root of a single seedling of Perilla frutescens var. acuta Kudo, except total chlorophyll and anthocyanin contents, was the greatest in the 128-cell tray. However, length of the longest root, length, width and area of the leaf, internode length, root fresh weight, and root ball formation in the 200- and 288-cell trays were not significantly different each other. In Sophora tonkinensis, although length of the longest root, stem diameter, leaf width, leaf area, shoot fresh weight, and root ball formation were not significantly different among the treatments, length of the longest root and root ball formation of a single seedling were the greatest in the 128-cell tray. Overall shoot and root growth, except total chlorophyll content, of a single seedling of Angelica gigas Nakai was the greatest in the 128-cell tray. Based on the total biomass, it is concluded that 288-cell trays are recommended for production of plug seedlings of medicinal plant species P. frutescens var. acuta Kudo and S. tonkinensis. In A. gigas Nakai, it would be more economical to use the 200-cell trays than 128-cell trays due to total biomass.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.7 no.5
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• pp.138-145
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• 2007

Mobile network evolution and development of USN technologies introduce new business model based on context awareness. Cellular operators provide friend finding service using cell based location information and telematics service using GPS location information. Recently cellular operators provide yellow page service based cell based location information. In this paper, we develop mobile tour application on WIPI platform based on location information. Mobile tour information services provide the best information based on context awareness using user location information from LBS(Location Based Service) Platform, season, weather conditions, time from Web server, and personal preference information stored in database. Mobile tour information service application is developed on WIPI platform.