• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.205-214
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• 2005

Background: We examined global gene expression profiles of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) in patients with ulcerative colitis (DC), and tested whether the identified genes with the altered expression might be associated with susceptibility to UC. Methods: PBMCs from 8 UC and 8 normal healthy (NH) volunteers were collected, and total RNAs were subjected to the human 8.0K cDNA chip for the micro array analysis. Real time-PCR (RT-PCR) was performed to verify the results of micro array. One hundred forty UC patients and 300 NH controls were recruited for single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) analysis. Results: Twenty-five immune function-related genes with over 2-fold expression were identified. Of these genes, two chemokines, namely, CXCL1 and CCL20, were selected because of their potential importance in the evocation of host innate and adaptive immunity. Four SNPs were identified in the promoter and coding regions of CXCL1, while there was no significant difference between all patients with UC and controls in their polymorphisms, except minor association at g.57A>G (rs2071425, p=0.02). On the other hand, among three novel and one known SNPs identified in the promoter region of CCL20, g. -1,706 G>A (p=0.000000055), g. -1,458 G>A (p=0.0048), and g. -962C>A (p=0.0006) were found to be significantly associated with the susceptibility of Uc. Conclusion: Altered gene expression in mononuclear cells may contribute to IBD pathogenesis. Although the findings need to be confirmed in other populations with larger numbers of patients, the current results demonstrated that polymorphisms in the promoter region of CCL20 are positively associated with the development of Uc.

• The Journal of Advanced Prosthodontics
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.402-408
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• 2013

PURPOSE. The aim of this study was to evaluate the surface properties and in vitro bioactivity to osteoblasts of magnesium and magnesium-hydroxyapatite coated titanium. MATERIALS AND METHODS. Themagnesium (Mg) and magnesium-hydroxyapatite (Mg-HA) coatings on titanium (Ti) substrates were prepared by radio frequency (RF) and direct current (DC) magnetron sputtering.The samples were divided into non-coated smooth Ti (Ti-S group), Mg coatinggroup (Ti-Mg group), and Mg-HA coating group (Ti-MgHA group).The surface properties were evaluated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The surface roughness was evaluated by atomic force microscopy (AFM). Cell adhesion, cell proliferation and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity were evaluated using MC3T3-E1 cells. Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis was performed. RESULTS. Cross-sectional SEM images showed that Mg and Mg-HA depositionson titanium substrates were performed successfully. The surface roughness appeared to be similaramong the three groups. Ti-MgHA and Ti-Mg group had improved cellular responses with regard to the proliferation, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, and bone-associated markers, such as bone sialoprotein (BSP) and osteocalcin (OCN) mRNA compared to those of Ti-S group. However, the differences between Ti-Mg group and Ti-MgHA group were not significant, in spite of the tendency of higher proliferation, ALP activity and BSP expression in Ti-MgHA group. CONCLUSION. Mg and Mg-HAcoatings could stimulate the differentiation into osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 cells, potentially contributing to rapid osseointegration.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.213-218
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• 2006

Objectives : Radix Bupleuri is from the dried root of the herb of the Perennial herbaceous plant, Bulpleurum falcatum L. or Bulpleurum chinense DC. or Bulpleurum. scorzonerifolium Willd., family Umbelliferae. Medicinal Properties are bitter and pungent in flavor, slightly cold in nature and attributed to the liver and gallbladder meridians. Actions in modern Materia Medica are regulate the functional relation of internal organs to relieve fever, disperse the stagnated liver-qi and uplift yang-qi to raise sinking. The ‘uplift yang-qi to raise sinking’ efficacy, out of three efficacies (regulate the functional relation of internal organs to relieve fever, disperse the stagnated liver-qi and uplift yang-qi to raise sinking), has been disputed in the medical profession for a long period. Hereupon, this study ascertained the reason why it has been disputed. Methods : With respect to this medicinal herb, the efficacies of regulate the functional relation of internal organs to relieve fever, disperse the stagnated liver-qi and uplift yang-qi to raise sinking were described as to what was written in ‘Shen Nong's Herbal’ from Chin and Han dynasties until Jin and Yuan dynasties. Results : The beginning of Jin and Yuan dynasties, it began to deal with the ‘uplift yang-qi to raise sinking’ efficacy and so it has been carried on modern textbooks and medical books. The reason why it was added is that it was influenced by the theory of ‘Raise Sinking’ advocated by Zhang jieku who lived in the period of Jin and Yuan dynasties. Since then, the properties of ‘Radix Bupleuri’ have been wrongly known to the public. Additionally, ‘Radix Stellariae Seu Gypsophilae’, which was begun to be introduced from the Four Cities since the Five Dynasties, has been combined with the best stuffs of ‘Radix Bupleuri’ produced from Yin Zhou. Consequently, its original properties were remarkably disordered. Likewise, respective medical schools’ theories were changed by the influence of ‘Bulpleurum. scorzonerifolium Willd’ begun to be used since Tang dynasty. Conclusion : it is considered that the current ‘Raise Sinking’ efficacy of Radix Bupleuri is unreasonable to be applied to the efficacy of the whole Radix Bupleuri because it is limited to certain species.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
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• 2008.11a
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• pp.145-145
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• 2008

High-k materials have been paid much more attention for their characteristics with high permittivity to reduce the leakage current through the scaled gate oxide. Among the high-k materials, $ZrO_2$ is one of the most attractive ones combing such favorable properties as a high dielectric constant (k= 20 ~ 25), wide band gap (5 ~ 7 eV) as well as a close thermal expansion coefficient with Si that results in good thermal stability of the $ZrO_2$/Si structure. During the etching process, plasma etching has been widely used to define fine-line patterns, selectively remove materials over topography, planarize surfaces, and trip photoresist. About the high-k materials etching, the relation between the etch characteristics of high-k dielectric materials and plasma properties is required to be studied more to match standard processing procedure with low damaged removal process. Among several etching techniques, we chose the inductively coupled plasma (ICP) for high-density plasma, easy control of ion energy and flux, low ownership and simple structure. And the $BCl_3$ was included in the gas due to the effective extraction of oxygen in the form of $BCl_xO_y$ compounds. During the etching process, the wafer surface temperature is an important parameter, until now, there is less study on temperature parameter. In this study, the etch mechanism of $ZrO_2$ thin film was investigated in function of $Cl_2$ addition to $BCl_3$/Ar gas mixture ratio, RF power and DC-bias power based on substrate temperature increased from $10^{\circ}C$ to $80^{\circ}C$. The variations of relative volume densities for the particles were measured with optical emission spectroscopy (OES). The surface imagination was measured by scanning emission spectroscope (SEM). The chemical state of film was investigated using energy dispersive X-ray (EDX).

• Journal of the Institute of Electronics Engineers of Korea SD
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• v.45 no.6
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• pp.60-67
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• 2008

A low-power 2.4GHz fractional-N frequency synthesizer has been designed for 2.4GHz ISM band applications such as Bluetooth, Zigbee, and WLAN. To achieve low-power characteristic, the design has been focused on the power optimization of power-hungry blocks such as VCO, prescaler, and ${\Sigma}-{\Delta}$ modulator. An NP-core type VCO is adopted to optimize both phase noise and power consumption. Dynamic D-F/Fs with no static DC current are employed in designing the low-power prescaler circuit. The ${\Sigma}-{\Delta}$ modulator is designed using a modulus mapping circuit for reducing hardware complexity and power consumption. The designed frequency synthesizer which was fabricated using a $0.18{\mu}m$ CMOS process consumes 7.9mA from a single 1.8V supply voltage. The experimental results show that a phase noise of -118dBc/Hz at 1MHz offset, the reference spur of -70dBc at 25MHz offset, and the channel switching time of $15{\mu}s$ over 25MHz transition have been achieved. The designed chip occupies an area of $1.16mm^2$ including pads where the core area is only $0.64mm^2$.

• Journal of the Institute of Electronics Engineers of Korea SD
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.65-73
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• 2003

This paper presents the implementation of an analog signal-processing ASIS to detect an angular velocity signal from a vibrator angular velocity detection sensor. The output of the sensor to be charge appeared as the variation of the capacitance value in the structure of the sensor was detected using charge amplifiers and a self oscillation circuit for driving the sensor was implemented with a sinusoidal self oscillation circuit using the resonance characteristics of the sensor. Specially an automatic gain control circuit was utilized to prevent the deterioration of self-oscillation characteristics due to the external elements such as the characteristic variation of the sensor process and the temperature variation. The angular velocity signal, amplitude-mod)Hated in the operation characteristics of the sensor, was demodulated using a synchronous detection circuit. A switching multiplication circuit was used in the synchronous detection circuit to prevent the magnitude variation of detected signal caused by the amplitude variation of the carrier signal. The ASIC was designed and implemented using 0.5${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$ CMOS process. The chip size was 1.2mm x 1mm. In the experiment under the supply voltage of 3V, the ASIC consumed the supply current of 3.6mA and noise spectrum density from dc to 50Hz was in the range of -95 dBrms/√Hz and -100 dBrms/√Hz when the ASIC, coupled with the sensor, was in normal operation.

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Information and Communication Engineering
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.659-666
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• 2006

Servo-motors are used as key components of automated system by performing precise motion control as accurate positioning and accurate speed regulation in response to the commands from computers and sensors. Especially, the linear brushless servo-motors have numerous advantages over the rotary servo motors which have connection with the friction induced transfer mechanism such as ball screws, timing belts, rack/pinion. This paper proposes an estimation method of unknown motor system parameters using the informations from the sinusoidal driving type linear brushless DC motor dynamics and outputs. The estimated parameters can be used to tune the controller gain and a disturbance observer. In order to meet this purpose high performance Digital Signal Processor, TMS320F240, designed originally for implementation of a Field Oriented Control(FOC) technology is adopted as a controller of the liner BLDC servo motor. Having A/D converters, PWM generators, rich I/O port internally, this servo motor application specific DSP play an important role in servo motor controller. This linear BLDC servo motor system also contains IPM(Intelligent Power Module) driver and hail sensor type current sensor module, photocoupler module for isolation of gate signals and fault signals.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.77-86
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• 2002

Current composites are made with dimethacrylate monomers and silane-treated silica microfillers, either alone or with silane treated glass fillers The main reasons for clinical failure of dental composites are secondary caries, wear and fracture. Most of practitioner want to get a composite which is more tougher under occlusal stress, less polymerization contraction, and better handling properties in application clinically. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of resin matrix with various flows on the physical proper-ties such as fracture toughness and degree of conversion of the experimental resins. It was hypothesized that flexible or tough resin composites can be designed by judicious choice of monomer composition Various flow resin matrices containing Bis-GMA, UDMA, and TEG-DMA were made by altering the pro-portion of the monomers. After the unfilled resins were light-cured for different light intensity, the fracture toughness(K$_{1c}$) was measured according to ASTM standard using the single edge notched geometry, and degree of conversion(DC) was measured by FTIR. And experimental composites were formulated with variations in the proportion of silanated quartz and strontium glass fillers as 60, 75, and 77wt%. Also, the physical properties of composites with various filer contents were evaluated as same manner. All resulting data were compared by ANOVA/Tukeys test at 0.05 level. The results were as follows; 1. The degree of conversion of high flow resin containing less Bis-GMA was higher than that of low flow unfilled resin 2. While the degree of conversion of unfilled resin was increased according to light intensity for polymerization, there was no significant increase with moderate and high light intensity. Also, the fracture toughness was not increased by high light intensity. 3. The fracture toughness was high in the low flow unfilled resin containing higher contents of Bis-GMA. 4. There was a significant increase for fracture toughness and a tendency for degree of conversion to be reduced when the content of fillers was increased. 5. In the experimental composites, the flow of resin matrix did not affected on the fracture toughness, even, which was decreased as increase of viscosity. These results showed that the physical properties of a dental composite could be attributed to the flow of resin matrix with relative content of monomers. Specific combination of resin monomers should be designed to fulfil the needs of specific indication for use.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.360-369
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• 2008

The solar cells should be operated at the maximum power point because its output characteristics were greatly fluctuated on the variation of insolation, temperature and load. It is necessary to install an inverter among electric power converts by means of the output power of solar cell is DC. The inverter is operated supply a sinusoidal current and voltage to the load and the interactive utility line. In this paper, the proposes a photovoltaic system is designed with a step up chopper and single phase PWM voltage source inverter. Synchronous signal and control signal was processed by one-chip microprocessor for stable modulation. The step up chopper is operated in continuous mode by adjusting the duty ratio so that the photovoltaic system tracks the maximum power point of solar cell without any influence on the variation of insolation and temperature for solar cell has typical dropping character. The single phase PWM voltage source inverter is consists of complex type of electric power converter to compensate for the defect, that is, solar cell cannot be develop continuously by connecting with the source of electric power for ordinary using. It can be cause the efect of saving electric power, from 10 to 20%. The single phase PWM voltage source inverter operates in situation, that its output voltage is in same phase with the utility voltage. The inverter are supplies an ac power with high factor and low level of harmonics to the load and the utility power system.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2012.02a
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• pp.96-97
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• 2012

In nitride and oxide film deposition, sputtered metals react with nitrogen or oxygen gas in a vacuum chamber to form metal nitride or oxide films on a substrate. The physical properties of sputtered films (metals, oxides, and nitrides) are strongly influenced by magnetron plasma density during the deposition process. Typical target power densities on the magnetron during the deposition process are ~ (5-30) W/cm2, which gives a relatively low plasma density. The main challenge in reactive sputtering is the ability to generate a stable, arc free discharge at high plasma densities. Arcs occur due to formation of an insulating layer on the target surface caused by the re-deposition effect. One current method of generating an arc free discharge is to use the commercially available Pinnacle Plus+ Pulsed DC plasma generator manufactured by Advanced Energy Inc. This plasma generator uses a positive voltage pulse between negative pulses to attract electrons and discharge the target surface, thus preventing arc formation. However, this method can only generate low density plasma and therefore cannot allow full control of film properties. Also, after long runs ~ (1-3) hours, depends on duty cycle the stability of the reactive process is reduced due to increased probability of arc formation. Between 1995 and 1999, a new way of magnetron sputtering called HIPIMS (highly ionized pulse impulse magnetron sputtering) was developed. The main idea of this approach is to apply short ${\sim}(50-100){\mu}s$ high power pulses with a target power densities during the pulse between ~ (1-3) kW/cm2. These high power pulses generate high-density magnetron plasma that can significantly improve and control film properties. From the beginning, HIPIMS method has been applied to reactive sputtering processes for deposition of conductive and nonconductive films. However, commercially available HIPIMS plasma generators have not been able to create a stable, arc-free discharge in most reactive magnetron sputtering processes. HIPIMS plasma generators have been successfully used in reactive sputtering of nitrides for hard coating applications and for Al2O3 films. But until now there has been no HIPIMS data presented on reactive sputtering in cluster tools for semiconductors and MEMs applications. In this presentation, a new method of generating an arc free discharge for reactive HIPIMS using the new Cyprium plasma generator from Zpulser LLC will be introduced. Data (or evidence) will be presented showing that arc formation in reactive HIPIMS can be controlled without applying a positive voltage pulse between high power pulses. Arc-free reactive HIPIMS processes for sputtering AlN, TiO2, TiN and Si3N4 on the Applied Materials ENDURA 200 mm cluster tool will be presented. A direct comparison of the properties of films sputtered with the Advanced Energy Pinnacle Plus + plasma generator and the Zpulser Cyprium plasma generator will be presented.