• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.12
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• pp.5303-5307
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• 2016

Objective: Brain tumors cause great mortality and morbidity worldwide, and success rates with surgical treatment remain very low. Several recent studies have focused on introduction of novel effective medical therapeutic approaches. Genistein is a member of the isoflavonoid family which has proved to exert anticancer effects. Here we assessed the effects of genistein on the expression of MMP-2 and VEGF in low and high grade gliomas in vitro. Materials and Methods: High and low grade glioma tumor tissue samples were obtained from a total of 16 patients, washed with PBS, cut into small pieces, digested with collagenase type I and cultured in DMEM containing 10% FBS. When cells reached passage 3, they were exposed to genistein and MMP-2 and VEGF gene transcripts were determined by quantitative real time PCR (qRT-PCR). Results: Expression of MMP-2 demonstrated 580-fold reduction in expression in low grade glioma cells post treatment with genistein compared to untreated cells (P value= 0.05). In cells derived from high grade lesions, expression of MMP-2 was 2-fold lower than in controls (P value> 0.05). Genistein caused a 4.7-fold reduction in VEGF transcript in high grade glioma cells (P value> 0.05) but no effects were evident in low grade glioma cells. Conclusion. Based on the data of the present study, low grade glioma cells appear much more sensitive to genistein and this isoflavone might offer an appropriate therapeutic intervention in these patients. Further investigation of this possibility is clearly warranted.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.108-117
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• 1997

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the demographic characteristics, alcohol-related characteristics and personality trends in the participants of Alcoholics Anonymous. We compared the 33 participants of Alcoholics Anonymous maintaining abstinence at least over 6 months with 35 hospitalized alcoholic patients who have never attended Alcoholics Anonymous and 32 normal controls. The personality trend was measured by Catell's 16 Personality Factors Questionnaire. -Korean Version. The results were as follows: 1) In the demographic data, the participants of Alcoholics Anonymous were mainly 40's, graduated from high school, married, unemployed, middle class in economic state, first or second sons. 2) In alcohol related characteristics, age of first drinking was mainly distributed from 15 to 19 years-old. The most common psychosocial and environmental problem as precipitating factor of alcohol consumption was the problem with primary supper group and the second one was occupational. Most of them drank everyday, and admitted one time. 3) In the first stratum sources traits, the participants of Alcoholics Anonymous demonstrated significantly higher score than hospitalized alcoholic Patients, but lower than normal control in C-factor(stableness). They demonstrated significantly higher score than hospitalized alcoholic patients and normal controls in O-factor(Guilt-proness) and demonstrated significantly higher score than hospitalized alcoholic patients in Q3-factor(self-control). 4) In the second stratum sources traits, they demonstrated significantly higher score than hospitalized alcoholic patients in EXT-factor(extroversions), and lower score than hospitalized alcoholic patients and normal controls in IND-factor(independence).

• Genomics & Informatics
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.52.1-52.10
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• 2023

Accurate and efficient microbial diagnosis is crucial for effective molecular diagnostics, especially in the field of human healthcare. The gold standard equipment widely employed for detecting specific microorganisms in molecular diagnosis is quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). However, its limitations in low metagenomic DNA yield samples necessitate exploring alternative approaches. Digital PCR, by quantifying the number of copies of the target sequence, provides absolute quantification results for the bacterial strain. In this study, we compared the diagnostic efficiency of qRT-PCR and digital PCR in detecting a particular bacterial strain (Staphylococcus aureus), focusing on skin-derived DNA samples. Experimentally, specific primer for S. aureus were designed at transcription elongation factor (greA) gene and the target amplicon were cloned and sequenced to validate efficiency of specificity to the greA gene of S. aureus. To quantify the absolute amount of microorganisms present on the skin, the variable region 5 (V5) of the 16S rRNA gene was used, and primers for S. aureus identification were used to relative their amount in the subject's skin. The findings demonstrate the absolute convenience and efficiency of digital PCR in microbial diagnostics. We suggest that the high sensitivity and precise quantification provided by digital PCR could be a promising tool for detecting specific microorganisms, especially in skin-derived DNA samples with low metagenomic DNA yields, and that further research and implementation is needed to improve medical practice and diagnosis.

• ETRI Journal
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.65-72
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• 2003

To achieve cost and size reductions, we developed a low cost manufacturing technology for RF substrates and a high performance passive process technology for RF integrated passive devices (IPDs). The fabricated substrate is a conventional 6" Si wafer with a 25${\mu}m$ thick $SiO_2$ surface. This substrate showed a very good insertion loss of 0.03 dB/mm at 4 GHz, including the conductive metal loss, with a 50 ${\Omega}$ coplanar transmission line (W=50${\mu}m$, G=20${\mu}m$). Using benzo cyclo butene (BCB) interlayers and a 10 ${\mu}m$ Cu plating process, we made high Q rectangular and circular spiral inductors on Si that had record maximum quality factors of more than 100. The fabricated inductor library showed a maximum quality factor range of 30-120, depending on geometrical parameters and inductance values of 0.35-35 nH. We also fabricated small RF IPDs on a thick oxide Si substrate for use in handheld phone applications, such as antenna switch modules or front end modules, and high-speed wireless LAN applications. The chip sizes of the wafer-level-packaged RF IPDs and wire-bondable RF IPDs were 1.0-1.5$mm^2$ and 0.8-1.0$mm^2$, respectively. They showed very good insertion loss and RF performances. These substrate and passive process technologies will be widely utilized in hand-held RF modules and systems requiring low cost solutions and strict volumetric efficiencies.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.29 no.12
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• pp.781-785
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• 2016

With trend of the miniaturization and the high-functionalizing of mobile communication system, low-loss microwave dielectric materials are widely used for high frequency communication components. These dielectric materials should be co-sintered with highly electric-conducting metal such as silver or copper for high-frequency and thick film process application. Sintering temperature of $Ca(Li_{1/3}Nd_{2/3})_{0.2}Ti_{0.8}]O_{3-{\delta}}$, which has excellent dielectric properties such as ${\varepsilon}_r$ above 40, quality factor ($Q{\cdot}f_0$) above 16,000 GHz, and TCF (temperature coefficient of resonant frequency) of $-20{\sim}-10ppm/^{\circ}C$, is reported as high as $1,175^{\circ}C$, so it could not be co-sintered with silver or copper. Therefore in this study, low-temperature melting glasses of Zn-B-O and Zn-B-Si-O systems were added to $Ca[(Li_{1/3}Nb_{2/3})_{0.8}Ti_{0.2}]O_{3-{\delta}}$ to lower its sintering temperature under $900^{\circ}C$ without losing excellency of dielectric properties. With 15 weight % of Zn-B-Si-O glass and sintered at $875^{\circ}C$, specimen showed density of $4.11g/cm^3$, ${\varepsilon}_r$ of 40.1, $Q{\cdot}f_0$ of 4,869 GHz, and TCF of $-5.9ppm/^{\circ}C$. With 15 weight % of Zn-B-O glass and sintered at $875^{\circ}C$, specimen showed density of $4.14g/cm^3$, ${\varepsilon}_r$ of 40.4, $Q{\cdot}f_0$ of 7,059 GHz, and TCF of $-0.92ppm/^{\circ}C$.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.441-456
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• 1998

The purpose of this study was to develop a reliable and valid instrument to measure hope for cancer patients in Korea. This Hope Scale(Kim & Lee Hope Scale ; KLHS ) was developed based on not only critical universal attributes explaining both basic hope (generalized hope) and specific hope but also particular characteristics varing from culture and situation, which were revealed in a comprehensive review of the literature. Initially 60 items were generated from three sources : 36 items from the Q-sample used in the Kim's study, 1992, 21 representative items(statements) from the rest Q-population of the above study, 3 items related to the newly discovered category in the new qualitative study using 10 open ended question(death and dying) from the new qualitative study on the 20 cancer patients. At first 3 items were eliminated by the critique of the content validity experts, who were high experienced nurse, nursing professors. And then 4 items were eliminated in consideration of corrected item total correlation coefficiency, theoretical framework of this study. After that, 14 items were eliminated in comparing two or three items identified with the same meaning in each factor by this research team with factor loading and communality. This Hope Scale was finally constructed with 39 items. Psychometric evaluation was done on 492 adults(104 cancer patients, 388 adults who imagined who were cancer patients ranging from 18 to 76 years old. The results revealed high internal consistency Alpha coefficiency of .9351. Princial Component Factor Analysis with Varimax Rotation resulted in 8 factors with more than 1.0 of Eigenvalue. Referring to Eigenvalues, percent of variances(>60%), reproduced correlation matrix, and our theoretical framework, we decided the eight factors were the best1 solution to represent hope dimensions sufficiently. The eight factors were "confidence in possibility of cure", "sense of internal satisfaction", "being in communion", "meaning of life", "Korean hope perspectives", "belief in god", "self confidence", "self-worth". Among these factors, "confidence in possibility of cure", "sense of internal satisfaction", "Korean hope perspectives" were identified as different hope dimensions from those of Nowotny Hope Scale and Herth Hope Scale. There was significant negative correlation of r=-.4736 between this hope scale and Beck Hopelessness Scale (BHS), and significant positive correlation of r=.3685 between this hope scale and Life Orientation Test (LOT) which indicate convergent and discriminant validity. The range of hope scores was from 71 to 244, with a mean of 171.97(SD=28.16).

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.148-154
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• 2011

The quality factors ($k_{Q,Q_0}$) were evaluated by appling the results recently studied for the effect of central electrode in TRS-398 protocol. The PTW-31010 and IBA-CC13 chambers were used in this study. The quality factors were calculated as a function of beam quality for high energy electron and photon beams and compared with data currently used in TRS-398 protocol. In the PTW-31010 chamber using aluminium electrode, appling the new central electrode collections, the quality factors were 0.4% and 0.9% higher than current TRS-398 data for high energy photon and electron beams respectively. In the IBA-CC13 chamber using C-552 electrode, there are no variations in quality factors compared to TRS-398 data currently used.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.347-355
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• 2022

Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a life-threatening disorder worldwide. Fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) was shown to display a high level in the plasma of patients with AAA; however, its detailed functions underlying AAA pathogenesis are unclear. An in vitro AAA model was established in human aortic vascular smooth muscle cells (HASMCs) by angiotensin II (Ang-II) stimulation. Cell counting kit-8, wound healing, and Transwell assays were utilized for measuring cell proliferation and migration. RT-qPCR was used for detecting mRNA expression of FGF21 and activating transcription factor 4 (ATF4). Western blotting was utilized for assessing protein levels of FGF21, ATF4, and markers for the contractile phenotype of HASMCs. ChIP and luciferase reporter assays were implemented for identifying the binding relation between AFT4 and FGF21 promoters. FGF21 and ATF4 were both upregulated in Ang-II-treated HASMCs. Knocking down FGF21 attenuated Ang-II-induced proliferation, migration, and phenotype switch of HASMCs. ATF4 activated FGF21 transcription by binding to its promoter. FGF21 overexpression reversed AFT4 silencing-mediated inhibition of cell proliferation, migration, and phenotype switch. ATF4 transcriptionally upregulates FGF21 to promote the proliferation, migration, and phenotype switch of Ang-II-treated HASMCs.

• Progress in Superconductivity
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.146-151
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• 2008

Measurements of surface resistance ($R_s$) of high temperature superconductor (HTS) films with accuracy are essential for microwave applications of HTS materials. In using the dielectric resonator method, uncertainties in the unloaded quality factor of the resonator cause significant errors in the measured $R_s$ of HTS films. We compare the Rs values of $YBa_2Cu_3O_{7-{\delta}}$ films calculated from the $Q_0$ as determined from the Lorentzian fit with that from the $Q_0$ as determined from the S-parameter circle-fit at temperatures between 15 K and 77 K. The two sets of values appeared to differ by 5%, 7%, 6%, and 11% at temperatures of 15, 60, 70, and 77 K, respectively, from each other, implying that careful error analysis needs to be performed in obtaining the $R_s$ of HTS films by using the Lorentzian-fit method, with the ones determined from the S-parameter circle-fit used as the reference.

• Journal of the Korean Magnetics Society
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• v.11 no.5
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• pp.222-225
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• 2001

The planar type inductors have a good potential for the application of miniaturized low power DC-DC converters. For those high quality application, the reduction of coil loss and also magnetic films which have good high frequency properties are required. Fabricated inductor was consisted of FeTaN/Ti magnetic film and electroplated Cu coil thickness of 100$\mu\textrm{m}$ and $SiO_2$ as a insulating layer. The inductor was designed double rectangular spiral shape for magnetic field highly confining within the device. The measured value of inductance and resistance were 980 nH and 1.7 $\Omega$ at 1 MHz as operating frequency of device. The Q factor is 3.55 at 1 MHz.