• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2003

Type II collagen (CII), major component of hyaline cartilage, has been considered as an auto-antigen in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). However, the clinical and biological significances with regard to the CII autoimmunity need to be clarified in human RA. The presence of antibodies to CII has been identified in sera, synovial fluid, and cartilage of patients with RA. In our study, the increased titer of IgG anti-CII in sera was well correlated with C-reactive protein, suggesting that this antibody may reflect the inflammatory status of RA. The titer of anti-CII antibodies (anti-CII Abs) tended to be higher in early stages of diseases. In our extending study, among 997 patients with RA, 269 (27.0%) were positive for circulatory IgG antibody to CII, those levels were fluctuated over time. It is hard to assess the significant amount of T cell responses to CII and CII (255~274) in RA. By using a sensitive method of antigen specific mixed lymphocyte culture, we can detect the presence of CII-reactive T cells in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of RA patients. Sixty seven (46.9%) of 143 patients showed positive CII reactive T cell responses to CII or CII (255~274). The frequencies of CII reactive T cells were more prominent in inflamed synovial fluid (SF) than in peripheral blood. These T cells could be clonally expanded after consecutive stimulation of CII with feeding of autologous irradiated antigen presenting cells (APC). Moreover, the production of Th1-related cytokine, such as IFN-${\gamma}$, was strongly up-regulated by CII reactive T cells. These data suggest that T cells responding to CII, which are probably presenting the IFN-${\gamma}$ producing cells, may play an important role in the perpetuation of inflammatory process in RA. To evaluate the effector function of CII reactive T cells, we investigated the effect of CII reactive T cells and fibroblasts-like synoviocytes (FLS) interaction on the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines. When the CII reactive T cells were co-cultured with FLS, the production of IL-15 and TNF-${\alpha}$ from FLS were significantly increased (2 to 3 fold increase) and this increase was clearly presented in accord to the expansion of CII reactive T cells. In addition, the production of IFN-${\gamma}$ and IL-17, T cell derived cytokines, were also increased by the co-incubation of CII reactive T cells with FLS. We also examined the impact of CII reactive T cells on chemokines production. When FLS were co-cultured with CII stimulated T cells, the production of IL-8, MCP-1, and MIP-1${\alpha}$ were significantly enhanced. The increased production of these chemokines was strongly correlated with increase the frequency of CII reactive T cells. Conclusively, immune response to CII was frequently found in RA. Activated T cells in response to CII contributed to increase the production of proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines, which were critical for inflammatory responses in RA. The interaction of CII-reactive T cells with FLS further augmented this phenomenon. Taken together, our recent studies have suggested that autoimmunity to CII could play a crucial role not only in the initiation but amplification/perpetuation of inflammatory process in human RA.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers B
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• v.36 no.6
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• pp.655-662
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• 2012

Gas leakage in an oil refinery causes damage to the environment and unsafe conditions. Therefore, it is necessary to develop a technique that is able to detect the location of the leakage and to filter abnormal gas-leakage signals from normal background noise. In this study, the adaptation filter of the finite impulse response (FIR) least mean squares (LMS) algorithm and a cross-correlation function were used to develop a leakage-predicting program based on LABVIEW. Nitrogen gas at a high pressure of 120 kg/$cm^2$ and the assembled equipment were used to perform experiments in a reverberant chamber. Analysis of the data from the experiments performed with various hole sizes, pressures, distances, and frequencies indicated that the background noise occurred primarily at less than 1 kHz and that the leakage signal appeared in a high-frequency region of around 16 kHz. Measurement of the noise sources in an actual oil refinery revealed that the noise frequencies of pumps and compressors, which are two typical background noise sources in a petrochemical plant, were 2 kHz and 4.5 kHz, respectively. The fact that these two signals were separated clearly made it possible to distinguish leakage signals from background noises and, in addition, to detect the location of the leakage.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.181-188
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• 2003

Cordyceps has a reputation for its broad biological activities and as a tonic which replenishs vital function in Chinese traditional medicines. As an attempt to obtain fundamental data for the development of new type Cordyceps, the effects of the fruiting bodies of cultivated fungus of Paecilomyces japonica grown on silkworm larvae on radiationinduced damages were investigated. We performed this study to determine the effect of Dongchongxiacao (Paecilomyces japonica) on jejunal crypt survival, endogenous spleen colony formation, and apoptosis in jejunal crypt cells and hair follicles of mice irradiated with high and low dose of gamma-radiation. Treatment with Dongchongxiacao showed no significant modifying effects on the jejunal crypt survival and endogenous spleen colony formation. The frequency of radiationinduced apoptosis was reduced by pretreatment of Dongchongxiacao (i.p.: 50 mg/kg of body weight, at 12 and 36 hours before irradiation, p<0.01). The spontaneous levels of apoptotic cells are $0.082{\pm}0.041$ in intestinal crypts and $0.231{\pm}0.084$ per hair follicle section of skin. Pretreatment of Dongchongxiacao was associated with decreases of 26.86% in intestinal crypt and 66.36% in hair follicle decrease in the number of cells with nuclei positively stained for apoptosis compared with the irradiation control group. We demonstrated for the first time that Dongchongxiacao administration could reduce the extent of apoptosis produced by radiation in the hair follicle. The results presented herein that Dongchongxiacao given before irradiation is capable of reducing the severity of cell loss as a result of apoptosis.

• Annals of Clinical Neurophysiology
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.21-26
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• 2010

Background: Although quantitative sensory test (QST) is being used with increasing frequency for measuring sensory thresholds in clinical practice and epidemiologic studies, there has been no age-matched normative data in Korean adults. The objective of this study is to evaluate the value of QST in diabetic polyneuropathy with normal range in Korean adults. Methods: The Computer Aided Sensory Examination IV 4,2 (WR Medical Electronics Co., Stillwater, Minnesota, U.S.A.), with 4,2,1 stepping algorithm was used to determine vibration and cold perception threshold in 70 normal controls and 19 patients with diabetic polyneuropathy aged from 21 to 79 years. The data were used to define age-matched upper and lower normal limits and normal range of side to side difference. We also evaluated the duration of diabetes, serum HbA1C level, and findings of nerve conduction study (NCS) and QST in patients with diabetic polyneuropathy. Results: In normal adults, sensory thresholds slightly increased with age, and a slight side-to-side difference was observed. The diagnostic sensitivity of QST was not higher than NCS in patients with diabetic polyneuropathy (36.8% vs. 42.1%, p=0.716), especially among elderly patients. Conclusions: QST might be used as a complementary test for NCS in the diagnosis of diabetic polyneuropathy. Although the QST is a simple method for the evaluation of peripheral nerve function, there are some limitations. Most of all, because the QST measuring is dependent on the subjective response of patients, the degree of concentration and cooperation of the patients can significantly affect the result. And thus, attention should be paid during the interpretation of QST results in patients with peripheral neuropathy.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.379-384
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• 1997

Superovulation with exogenous gonadotropins creates a spectrum of pre or periovulatory hormonal changes with subsequent detrimental effects on oocyte quality, fertilization, embryo development, implantation and maintenance of pregnancy. Our recent study determined potential roles for insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) in uterine environment regulation and preimplant tation in the rat. The evidence indicates that IGF-l may play an important role in the main tenance of a receptive uterine environment for embryonic development and the regulation of decidualization. Embryonic loss and failure of implantations following superovulation may be partially attributed to disturbances in uterine IGF-l action as observed in this study. We investigated the effects of superovulatory doses of gonadotropins on frequency of chromosomal a abnormalities of mouse embryos. Chromosome a analysis of mouse zygotes and 8- to 16-cell stage embryos from spontaneously ovulated, 5, 10, and l 15 lU pregnant mare serum gonadotropin (PMSG) superovulated mice was carried out. Aneuploidy, polyploidy and structural chrom- osomal abnormalities were detected among the four groups. However, only polyploidy was correlated with superovulation. In 10 and 15 IV PMSG treated groups, the rate of polypoidy was 2.9% and 10.5%, respectively. Furthermore, there was a dose reponse relationship between the PMSG dose and the incidence of embryonic p polyploidy (P

• Korean Journal of Construction Engineering and Management
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.60-69
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• 2015

Labor attendance management has traditionally been carried out by writing a table for checking an attendance of labor, which requires a lot of time and effort. As electronic devices with additions such as barcodes, Quick Response codes, and Radio Frequency Identification(RFID) have been developed, however, automated labor attendance management systems have appeared. Recently, various types of labor recognition devices converged with biometrics (fingerprint, vein, face recognition, etc.) have been released. However, although these devices can be used to check attendance automatically, there is insufficient guidance when it comes to selecting the appropriate labor attendance management system for construction sites. Therefore, this study proposed a decision framework to determine which labor attendance management system would be suitable for a construction site and to select the labor recognition device. This study investigated different labor recognition devices, focusing on how they worked, and tested the performance of devices and their usability for construction labor attendance management. The test results showed that RFID is most suitable when verifying the attendance of many laborers over a short period of time. The devices for hand vein and fingerprint recognition did not function when there was a foreign material such as cement or paint on the laborer's hand, except for a deformed finger. Reflecting these test results, this study suggested a framework for selecting a labor attendance system and recognition device; this is expected to contribute to the development of more efficient labor management systems.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.165-171
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• 1991

Two patients with confirmed cerebral cysticercosis were treated with Albendazole(Zentel$^{(R)}$) at a daily dose of 1.200mg t.i.d. for 14 consecutive days and evaluated for tolerance and therapeutic effects. First case was 29 year old male, who had experience of 4 times of grand mal seizures during 1 year period before administration in Korea University Hospital. His chief complaints were seizure and moderate degree headache. He also had 4 subcutaneous nodules on the thorax, right and left upper arms. Among them one nodule was biopsied and confirmed microscopically as Cysticercus cellulosae hominis. Computed tomography of the brain showed four round low density lesions in right postero-frontal area, sylvian area, intra-occipital area and left parietal area. Second case was 48 year old male, who also had experience of seizures at 3 years, 5 months and 3 months before administration. In this case, no subcutaneous nodules and no headaches were noted. Brain CT showed four round low density lesions in right postero-parietal area and temporo-parietal area, and left temporo-parietal and parietal area. Serum antibody against cystic fluid antigen was detected by ELISA in both cases. The efficacy of the treatment of cerebral cysticercosis was assessed by the frequency of convulsions after treatment for 22 months follow-up. by the disappearance of the densities in cystic lesions at brain CT for 6 months follow-up, and disappearance of subcutaneous nodules, headache and so on. As the results, all low density lesions in both cases were disappeared in films of brain CT, and 4 nodules in first case were also disappeared. No more seizure and complain of headache occurred during the last 22 months after treatment in both cases. Post-treatment complete blood count and liver function test revealed no remarkable change compared to pre-treatment test. In the nations of Latin America, the physicians do not initially recommended the simultaneous administrations of steroids, reserving them only for patients whom the adverse reactions such as severe headache and/or seizures are occurred. According to them, in most patients these symptoms are controlled with aspirin and symptomatic drugs. But our experience using praziquantel is different, and most cerebral cysticercosis patients who takes PZQ had complaint of severe headache and sometimes seizure. So we simultaneously used dexamethasone as 6mg q.i.d. for 14 consecutive days and 6 days tapering thereafter in both cases for prevention of reactions produced by the host in response to the deaths of the parasites. As the conclusion, albendazole is effective in patients who presented cerebral cysticercosis and albendazole may help in the control of cysticercosis.

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Information and Communication Engineering
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.503-510
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• 2006

Readout circuit is to convert signal occurred in a defector into suitable signal for image signal processing. In general, it has to possess functions of impedance matching with perception element, amplification, noise reduction and cell selection. It also should satisfies conditions of low-power, low-noise, linearity, uniformity, dynamic range, excellent frequency-response characteristic, and so on. The technical issues in developing image processing equipment for focal plane way (FPA) can be categorized as follow: First, ultraviolet (UV) my detector material and fine processing technology. Second, ReadOut IC (ROIC) design technology to process electric signal from detector. Last, package technology for hybrid bonding between detector and ROIC. ROIC enables intelligence and multi-function of image equipment. It is a core component for high value added commercialization ultimately. Especially, in development of high-resolution image equipment ROIC, it is necessary that high-integrated and low-power circuit design technology satisfied with design specifications such as detector characteristic, signal dynamic range, readout rate, noise characteristic, ceil pitch, power consumption and so on. In this paper, we implemented a $8\times8$ FPA prototype ROIC for reduction of period and cost. We tested unit block and overall functions of designed $8\times8$ FPA ROIC. Also, we manufactured ROIC control and image boards, and then were able to verify operation of ROIC by confirming detected image from PC's monitor through UART(Universal Asynchronous Receiver Transmitter) communication.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.403-407
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• 2005

In this work, the solid polymer electrolyte (SPE) composites, which are composed of poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO), mesoporous mobil crystalline material-41 (MCM-41), and lithium salt, are prepared in order to investigate the influence of MCM-41 contents on the ionic conductivity of the composites. The crystallinity of the SPE composites was evaluated using differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The ionic conductivity of the SPE composites was measured by the frequency response analyzer (FRA). As a result, the addition of MCM-41 into the polymeric mixture prohibited the growth of PEO crystalline domain due to the mesoporous structures of the MCM-41. The $P(EO)_{16}LiClO_4$/MCM-41 electrolytes show an increased ion conductivity as a function of MCM-41 content up to 8 $wt\%$ and a slightly decreased conductivity over 8 $wt\%$. These ion conductivity characteristics are dependent on a change of polymer crystallinity in the presence of MCM-41 system.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.17 no.5
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• pp.601-611
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• 2016

The research, development and use of seismic isolation systems have been increasing with the gradual development of structure safety assurance methods for earthquakes. The High Damping Rubber Bearing (HDRB), one type of seismic isolation system, is a Laminated Rubber Bearing using special High Damping Rubber. However, as its damping function is slightly lower than that of the Lead Rubber Bearing, a similar seismic isolation system, its utilization has not been high. However, the HDRB has a superior damping force to the Natural Rubber Bearing, which has similar materials and shapes, and the existing Lead Rubber Bearing has a maleficence problem in that it contains lead. Thus, studies on HDRBs that do not use lead have increased. In this study, a test targeting the HDRB was done to examine its various dependence properties, such as its compressive stress, frequency and repeated loading. To evaluate the HDRB's seismic performance in response to several earthquake waves, the shaking table test was performed and the results analyzed. The test used the downscaled bridge model and the HDRB was divided into seismic and non-seismic isolation. Consequently, when the HDRB was applied, the damping effect was higher in the non-seismic case. However, its responses on weak foundations, such as in Mexico City, represented increased shapes. Thus, its seismic isolator.