• Journal of Audiology & Otology
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• 제25권3호
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• pp.152-158
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• 2021

Background and Objectives: Balance control is maintained in stationary and dynamic conditions, with coordinated muscle responses generated by somatosensory, vestibular, and visual inputs. This study aimed to investigate how the vestibular system is affected in the presence of an optical illusion to better understand the interconnected pathways of the visual and vestibular systems. Subjects and Methods: The study involved 54 young adults (27 males and 27 females) aged 18-25 years. The recruited participants were subjected to the cervical vestibular evoked myogenic potentials (cVEMP) test and video head impulse test (vHIT). The cVEMP and vHIT tests were performed once each in the absence and presence of an optical illusion. In addition, after each test, whether the individuals felt balanced was determined using a questionnaire. Results: cVEMP results in the presence of the optical illusion showed shortened latencies and increased amplitudes for the left side in comparison to the results in the absence of the optical illusion (p≤0.05). When vHIT results were compared, it was seen that the right lateral and bilateral anterior canal gains were increased, almost to 1.0 (p<0.05). Conclusions: It is thought that when the visual-vestibular inputs are incompatible with each other, the sensory reweighting mechanism is activated, and this mechanism strengthens the more reliable (vestibular) inputs, while suppressing the less reliable (visual) inputs. As long as the incompatible condition persists, the sensory reweighting mechanism will continue to operate, thanks to the feedback loop from the efferent vestibular system.

• 대한청각학회지
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• 제25권3호
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• pp.152-158
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• 2021

Background and Objectives: Balance control is maintained in stationary and dynamic conditions, with coordinated muscle responses generated by somatosensory, vestibular, and visual inputs. This study aimed to investigate how the vestibular system is affected in the presence of an optical illusion to better understand the interconnected pathways of the visual and vestibular systems. Subjects and Methods: The study involved 54 young adults (27 males and 27 females) aged 18-25 years. The recruited participants were subjected to the cervical vestibular evoked myogenic potentials (cVEMP) test and video head impulse test (vHIT). The cVEMP and vHIT tests were performed once each in the absence and presence of an optical illusion. In addition, after each test, whether the individuals felt balanced was determined using a questionnaire. Results: cVEMP results in the presence of the optical illusion showed shortened latencies and increased amplitudes for the left side in comparison to the results in the absence of the optical illusion (p≤0.05). When vHIT results were compared, it was seen that the right lateral and bilateral anterior canal gains were increased, almost to 1.0 (p<0.05). Conclusions: It is thought that when the visual-vestibular inputs are incompatible with each other, the sensory reweighting mechanism is activated, and this mechanism strengthens the more reliable (vestibular) inputs, while suppressing the less reliable (visual) inputs. As long as the incompatible condition persists, the sensory reweighting mechanism will continue to operate, thanks to the feedback loop from the efferent vestibular system.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제27권3호
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• pp.231-240
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• 2023

Fabry disease is a lysosomal storage disorder characterized by the lysosomal accumulations of glycosphingolipids in a variety of cytotypes, which include endothelial cells. The disease is inherited and originates from an error in glycosphingolipid catabolism caused by insufficient α-galactosidase A activity, which causes uncontrolled progressive storage of intracellular globotriaosylceramide (Gb3) in the vasculature and extracellular accumulation of lyso-Gb3 (a deacetylated soluble form of Gb3). Necrosis can lead to inflammation, which exacerbates necrosis and creates a positive feedback loop that triggers necroinflammation. However, the role played by necroptosis, a form of programmed necrotic cell death, in the cell-to-cell inflammatory reaction between epithelial and endothelial cells is unclear. Thus, the present study was undertaken to determine whether lyso-Gb3 induces necroptosis and whether necroptosis inhibition protects endothelial dysfunction against lyso-Gb3 inflamed retinal pigment epithelial cells. We found lyso-Gb3 induced necroptosis of a retinal pigment epithelial cell line (ARPE-19) in an autophagy-dependent manner and that conditioned media (CM) from ARPE-19 cells treated with lyso-Gb3 induced the necroptosis, inflammation, and senescence of human umbilical vein endothelial cells. In addition, a pharmacological study showed CM from lyso-Gb3 treated ARPE-19 cells induced endothelial necroptosis, inflammation, and senescence were significantly inhibited by an autophagy inhibitor (3-MA) and by two necroptosis inhibitors (necrostatin and GSK-872), respectively. These results demonstrate lyso-Gb3 induces necroptosis via autophagy and suggest that lyso-Gb3 inflamed retinal pigment epithelial cells trigger endothelial dysfunction via the autophagy-dependent necroptosis pathway. This study suggests the involvement of a novel autophagy-dependent necroptosis pathway in the regulation of endothelial dysfunction in Fabry disease.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제27권5호
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• pp.493-511
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• 2023

Hippo/YAP signaling hinders cancer progression. Inactivation of this pathway contributes to the development of esophageal cancer by activation of Akt. However, the possible interaction between Akt and Hippo/YAP pathways in esophageal cancer progression is unclear. In this study, we found that ursolic acid (UA) plus 3'3-diindolylmethane (DIM) efficiently suppressed the oncogenic Akt/Gsk-3β signaling pathway while activating the Hippo tumor suppressor pathway in esophageal cancer cells. Moreover, the addition of the Akt inhibitor LY294002 and the PI3K inhibitor 3-methyladenine enhanced the inhibitory effects of UA plus DIM on Akt pathway activation and further stimulated the Hippo pathway, including the suppression of YAP nuclear translocation in esophageal cancer cells. Silencing YAP under UA plus DIM conditions significantly increased the activation of the tumor suppressor PTEN in esophageal cancer cells, while decreasing p-Akt activation, indicating that the Akt signaling pathway could be down-regulated in esophageal cancer cells by targeting PTEN. Furthermore, in a xenograft nude mice model, UA plus DIM treatment effectively diminished esophageal tumors by inactivating the Akt pathway and stimulating the Hippo signaling pathway. Thus, our study highlights a feedback loop between the PI3K/Akt and Hippo signaling pathways in esophageal cancer cells, implying that a low dose of UA plus DIM could serve as a promising chemotherapeutic combination strategy in the treatment of esophageal cancer.

• 한국초전도ㆍ저온공학회논문지
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• 제10권4호
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• pp.23-28
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• 2008

As a part of the plasma control system (PCS) for the first plasma campaign of KSTAR, seven sets of fast feedback control loop for the superconducting poloidal field magnet power supply (PF MPS) have been implemented. A special real-time digital communication interface has been developed for the simultaneous exchanges of the current/voltage data from the 7 sets of 12-thyristor power supplies in a 200 microsecond control cycle. Preliminary power supply tests have been performed before actual cooldown of the device. A $29mH/50m{\Omega}$ solenoid dummy has been fabricated for a series of single power supply tests. Connectivity and response speed of the plasma control system have been verified. By changing hardware cabling, this load was also used to estimate mutual inductance coupling effects of two geometrically adjacent solenoid coils on each power supply. After the cooldown was complete, each pair of the up/down symmetric PF coils has been serially connected and tested as part of the device commissioning process. Bipolar operation and longer pulse attempts have been investigated. The responses of the coils and power supplies corresponding to the plasma magnetic controls in plasma discharges are also analyzed for the future upgrades.

• Current Optics and Photonics
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• 제7권1호
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• pp.38-46
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• 2023

Optical Fourier-domain reflectometry (OFDR) sensors have been widely used to measure distances with high resolution and speed in a noncontact state. In the electroplating process of a printed circuit board, it is critically important to monitor the copper-plating thickness, as small deviations can lead to defects, such as an open or short circuit. In this paper we employ a phase-based OFDR sensor for in situ relative distance sensing of a sample with nanometer-scale resolution, during electroplating. We also develop an optical-path difference (OPD)-regulated sensing probe that can maintain a preset distance from the sample. This function can markedly facilitate practical measurements in two aspects: Optimal distance setting for high signal-to-noise ratio OFDR sensing, and protection of a fragile probe tip via vertical evasion movement. In a sample with a centimeter-scale structure, a conventional OFDR sensor will probably either bump into the sample or practically out of the detection range of the sensing probe. To address this limitation, a novel OPD-regulated OFDR system is designed by combining the OFDR sensing probe and linear piezo motors with feedback-loop control. By using multiple OFDR sensors, it is possible to effectively monitor copper-plating thickness in situ and uniformize it at various positions.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• 제20권6호
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• pp.49.1-49.15
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• 2020

C-C chemokine receptor type 5 (CCR5) regulates the trafficking of various immune cells to sites of infection. In this study, we showed that expression of CCR5 and its ligands was rapidly increased in the kidney after systemic Candida albicans infection, and infected CCR5^-/- mice exhibited increased mortality and morbidity, indicating that CCR5 contributes to an effective defense mechanism against systemic C. albicans infection. The susceptibility of CCR5^-/- mice to C. albicans infection was due to impaired fungal clearance, which in turn resulted in exacerbated renal inflammation and damage. CCR5-mediated recruitment of NK cells to the kidney in response to C. albicans infection was necessary for the anti-microbial activity of neutrophils, the main fungicidal effector cells. Mechanistically, C. albicans induced expression of IL-23 by CD11c⁺ dendritic cells (DCs). IL-23 in turn augmented the fungicidal activity of neutrophils through GM-CSF production by NK cells. As GM-CSF potentiated production of IL-23 in response to C. albicans, a positive feedback loop formed between NK cells and DCs seemed to function as an amplification point for host defense. Taken together, our results suggest that CCR5-mediated recruitment of NK cells to the site of fungal infection is an important step that underlies innate resistance to systemic C. albicans infection.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• 제63권6호
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• pp.497-506
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• 2007

연구배경: 급성호흡곤란증후군의 병인론에 관여하는 PAF의 역할이 다양하고 중요하므로 본 연구에서는 PAF의 또 다른 작용의 가능성, 즉 $cPLA_2$의 활성화(retrograde activation of $cPLA_2$ by PAF)의 가능성을 검사하고자 하였다. 즉, $cPLA_2$의 활성화에 따른 염증성 지질분자의 생성이 산소기의 생성과정을 증폭시키고 이 때 생성된 PAF가 역으로 $cPLA_2$를 활성화시키는지를 확인하기 위하여 본 연구는 고안되었다. 방 법: 흰쥐에서 급성폐손상을 유도하기 위하여 $5{\mu}g$의 PAF를 0.5 ml의 0.25% bovine serum albumin 용액과 혼합한 뒤 기도 내로 직접 분무하거나 0.5 ml의 4.5 mM의 과산화수소를 기도 내로 분무하였다. 대조군의 경우는 0.5 ml의 생리적 식염수를 기도 내로 분무하였다. 5 시간 후에 단백누출지수 측정, 폐장의 MPO 활성도 측정, 폐포 세척액 내의 호중구 산정, CINC 측정, NBT 및 cytochrome-c 환원검사를 시행하였다. 또한 폐장 및 호중구에 서의 $cPLA_2$ 활성도의 측정 및 광학현미경과 전자현미경을 이용하여 형태학적 관찰을 시행하였다. 결 과: PAF투여 후 단백누출지수, MPO, BAL내의 호중 구의 수 및 CINC의 농도가 대조군에 비하여 유의하게 증가하였다. NBT및 cytochrome-c환원검사의 결과 PAF는 호중구의 respiratory burst를 현저히 증가시키고, 분리된 사람의 호중구에서도 산소기의 생성을 현저히 증가시켰 다. 동시에 PAF는 분리된 호중구 및 폐장의 $cPLA_2$의 활성도도 증가 시켰다. 폐장 내로 투여한 과산화수소는 폐장의 $cPLA_2$활성도를 대조군에 비하여 현저히 증가시켰다. 결 론: $cPLA_2$의 활성화에 따라 생성된 PAF는 호중구의 산소기 생성을 증가시켜 폐장 내의 산화성스트레스를 유발하고 동시에 이때 생성된 산화기는 $cPLA_2$를 활성화시키며 PAF 또한 $cPLA_2$의 활성도를 증가시켜 PAF가 급성호흡 곤란증후군의 병인론에 관여하는 것으로 생각된다.

• 벤처창업연구
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• 제18권5호
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• pp.91-107
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• 2023

린 스타트업은 효율적인 기업 운영 방식을 의미하는 '린(lean)'과 창업 초기기업을 의미하는 '스타트업(startup)'을 결합해 만들어진 개념으로 창업 초기기업, 특히 소프트웨어 기반 스타트업의 실패 최소화 전략으로 자주 인용되고 있다. 본 연구는 초기스타트업 L사의 사례를 통하여 하드웨어·제조업 기업도 린 스타트업 방법론(LSM)을 유용하게 활용할 수 있음을 제시하고, 초기 스타트업이 LSM을 성공적으로 실천하기 위한 방안을 도출하였다. 이를 위해 LSM의 핵심 개념인 가설중심의 접근법, BML 피드백 순환, 최소요건제품(MVP) 및 피봇을 설명하고, 이를 바탕으로 LSM의 성공적인 실천 여부를 평가할 수 있는 기준을 도출한 후 동 기준을 중심으로 L사의 사례를 분석하였다. L사는 거동불편환자용 배변알리미 제품에서 출발하여, 영유아용 배변알리미를 거쳐, 최종적으로는 영유아용 스마트바틀을 주력 제품으로 사업을 확장하고 있는 스타트업이다. LSM의 관점에서 분석한 결과, L사는 창업 초기에는 창업 아이디어를 구체적인 고객 가치가설로 수립하지 못했고, 신속한 MVP실험을 통해 검증하는 데에도 실패하였으므로 만들기-측정-학습의 순환을 만들어내는데 실패하였다. 그러나 두 차례에 걸친 피봇을 통해 새로운 타겟 고객군과 고객 니즈를 개발하였고, 이를 최소의 노력과 시간을 들인 MVP로 반복적으로 실험함으로써 성공적인 비즈니스모델을 도출할 수 있었다. L사의 사례를 통해 사업초기에 반드시 고객-시장 검증 단계를 거쳐야 하며, 이는 스타트업의 시간과 자원이 낭비되지 않는 MVP 방식으로 진행되어야 함을 확인할 수 있었다. 또한 고객이 원하지 않는 제품이나 서비스는 기술적으로 우수하고 기능적으로 완성도가 높다 하더라도 과감히 포기하고 피봇할 필요성이 있음도 확인하였다. 마지막으로 린 스타트업 방법론이 소프트웨어 산업에 국한되지 않고, 기술기반 제조업에도 적용 가능함을 증명하였다. 본 연구의 결과는 향후 창업 초기기업이 실패를 최소화하고, 비즈니스모델 확립과 스케일업, 글로벌 진출에 이르는 과정을 가속화하기 위한 지침과 방법론으로 활용될 수 있을 것이다.

• 한국전자파학회논문지
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• 제28권12호
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• pp.933-940
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• 2017

본 논문에서는 부성 임피던스 변환기(Negative Impedance Converter: NIC)를 적용한 무선전력전송 시스템을 제안하였다. 차폐물질의 영향을 고려하여 전송 시스템을 구성하였다. 전송효율 개선을 위하여 부성 임피던스 변환기에서 발생한 부성저항을 적용하여 송신단의 Q 인자가 향상했다. NIC는 연산증폭기와 저항 소자로 구현하였으며, 특정 저항에 따른 부성저항 특성을 얻었다. 송신 코일의 크기는 $250mm{\times}250mm{\times}0.8mm$이며, 임피던스와 Q 인자는 각각 $31+j1874{\Omega}$, 60이다. 부성저항이 약 $30{\Omega}$일 때, 송신단의 저항이 감소하여 Q 인자는 약 900으로 증가했으며, 이는 기존 대비 약 15배 향상된 결과이다. 제안하는 시스템에 대하여 전송 효율을 측정하였으며, 기존 시스템과 비교하여 효율이 크게 향상되었다. 따라서 NIC의 효과로 전송 효율이 개선될 수 있는 것을 검증하였다.