• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.138-148
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• 2001

Purpose : Within a clinically acceptable time frame, we obtained the high resolution MR images of the human brain, knee, foot and wrist from 3T whole-body MRI system which was equipped with the world first 37 active shield magnet. Materials and Methods : Spin echo (SE) and Fast Spin Echo (FSE) images were obtained from the human brain, knee, foot and wrist of normal subjects using a homemade birdcage and transverse electromagnetic (TEM) resonators operating in quadrature and tuned to 128 MHz. For acquisition of MR images of knee, foot and wrist, we employed a homemade saddle shaped RF coil. Topical common acquisition parameters were as follows: matrix=$512{\times}512$, field of view (FOV) =20 cm, slice thickness = 3 mm, number of excitations (NEX)=1. For T1-weighted MR images, we used TR = 500 ms, TE = 10 or 17.4 ms. For T2-weighted MR images, we used TR=4000 ms, TE = 108 ms. Results : Signal to noise ratio (SNR) of 3T system was measured 2.7 times greater than that of prevalent 1.5T system. MR images obtained from 3T system revealed numerous small venous structures throughout the image plane and provided reasonable delineation between gray and white matter. Conclusion The present results demonstrate that the MR images from 3T system could provide better diagnostic quali\ulcorner of resolution and sensitivity than those of 1.5T system. The elevated SNR observed in the 3T high field magnetic resonance imaging can be utilized to acquire images with a level of resolution approaching the microscopic structural level under in vivo conditions. These images represent a significant advance in our ability to examine small anatomical features with noninvasive imaging methods.

• Korean Journal of Remote Sensing
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• v.36 no.5_2
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• pp.989-1006
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• 2020

Building change monitoring based on building detection is one of the most important fields in terms of monitoring artificial structures using high-resolution multi-temporal images such as CAS500-1 and 2, which are scheduled to be launched. However, not only the various shapes and sizes of buildings located on the surface of the Earth, but also the shadows or trees around them make it difficult to detect the buildings accurately. Also, a large number of misdetection are caused by relief displacement according to the azimuth and elevation angles of the platform. In this study, object-based building detection was performed using the azimuth angle of the Sun and the corresponding main direction of shadows to improve the results of building change detection. After that, the platform's azimuth and elevation angles were used to detect changed buildings. The object-based segmentation was performed on a high-resolution imagery, and then shadow objects were classified through the shadow intensity, and feature information such as rectangular fit, Gray-Level Co-occurrence Matrix (GLCM) homogeneity and area of each object were calculated for building candidate detection. Then, the final buildings were detected using the direction and distance relationship between the center of building candidate object and its shadow according to the azimuth angle of the Sun. A total of three methods were proposed for the building change detection between building objects detected in each image: simple overlay between objects, comparison of the object sizes according to the elevation angle of the platform, and consideration of direction between objects according to the azimuth angle of the platform. In this study, residential area was selected as study area using high-resolution imagery acquired from KOMPSAT-3 and Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV). Experimental results have shown that F1-scores of building detection results detected using feature information were 0.488 and 0.696 respectively in KOMPSAT-3 image and UAV image, whereas F1-scores of building detection results considering shadows were 0.876 and 0.867, respectively, indicating that the accuracy of building detection method considering shadows is higher. Also among the three proposed building change detection methods, the F1-score of the consideration of direction between objects according to the azimuth angles was the highest at 0.891.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.113-124
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• 2001

For veterinary imaging diagnosis, we obtained MR images of the canine brain, spine, kidney and pelvis from 3T MRI system which was equipped with the world first 3T active shield magnet. Spin echo (SE) and fast Spin Echo (FSE) images were obtained from the canine brain, spine, kidney and pelvis of normal and sick dogs using a homemade birdcage and transverse electromagnetic (TEM) resonators operating in quadrature and tuned to 128 MHz. In addition, we employed a homemade saddle shaped RF coil. Typical common acquisition parameters were as follows: matrix=512$\times$512, field of view (FOV)=20cm, slice thickness=3 w, number of excitations (NEX)=1. For T1-weighted MR images, we used TR=500 ms, TE=10 or 17.4 ms. For T2-weighted MR images, we used TR=4000 ms, TE=108 ms. Signal to noise ratio (SNR) of 3T system was measured 2.7 times greater than that of prevalent 1.57 system. The high resolution images acquired in this study represent more than a 4-fold increase in in-plane resolution relative to conventional images obtained with a 20 cm field of view and a 5 mm slice thickness. MR images obtained from 3T system revealed numerous small venous structures throughout the image plane and provided reasonable delineation between gray and white matter The present results demonstrate that the MR images from 3T system could provide better diagnostic quality of resolution and sensitivity than those of 1.5T system. The elevated SNR observed in the 3T high field magnetic resonance imaging can be utilized to acquire images with a level of resolution approaching the microscopic structural level under in vivo conditions. These images represent a significant advance in our ability to examine small anatomical features with noninvasive imaging methods. Moreover, MRI technique could begin to apply for veterinary medicine in Korea.

• Journal of the Korea Concrete Institute
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.327-335
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• 2009

In the seismic region, non-ductile structures often form soft story and exhibit brittle collapse. However, structure demolition and new structure construction strategies have serious problems, as construction waste, environmental pollution and popular complain. And these methods can be uneconomical. Therefore, to satisfy seismic performance, so many seismic retrofit methods have been investigated. There are some retrofit methods as infill walls, steel brace, continuous walls, buttress, wing walls, jacketing of column or beam. Among them, the infilled frames exhibit complex behavior as follows: flexible frames experiment large deflection and rotations at the joints, and infilled shear walls fail mainly in shear at relatively small displacements. Therefore, the combined action of the composite system differs significantly from that of the frame or wall alone. Purpose of research is evaluation on the seismic performance of infill walls, and improvement concept of this paper is use of SHCCs (strain-hardening cementitious composites) to absorb damage energy effectively. The experimental investigation consisted of cyclic loading tests on 1/3-scale models of infill walls. The experimental results, as expected, show that the multiple crack pattern, strength, and energy dissipation capacity are superior for SHCC infill wall due to bridging of fibers and stress redistribution in cement matrix.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.163-168
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• 2008

Biomedical scaffold for tissue regeneration was fabricated by one of rapid prototyping processes, bioplotting system, with a biodegradable and biocompatible poly($\varepsilon$-carprolactone)(PCL). Through dynamic mechanical test, it was observed that the PCL scaffold manufactured by the bioplotting process has the superior mechanical properties compared to the conventional scaffold fabricated by a salt-leaching process, and the plotted scaffold could be employed as a potential scaffold to regenerating hard and soft tissue. The plotted scaffold was consisted of porous structures. which were interconnected with each pore to help cells be easily adhered and proliferated in the wall of pore tunnels, and metabolic nutrients can be transported within the matrix. By using the plotting system, we could adjust the pore size, porosity, strand pitch, and, strand diameter of PCL scaffolds, which were important parameters to control mechanical properties of the scaffolds, and consequently we could determine that the mechanically controlled scaffolds could be used as a matching scaffold for any required mechanical properties of the target organ. The fabricated 3D PCL scaffold showed enough possibility as a 3D biomedical scaffold, which was cell-cultured with chondrocytes.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.528-534
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• 2010

Garlic (Allium sativum) has been well-known as a folk remedy for a variety of ailments since ancient times, and it is well documented that enhanced garlic consumption leads to a decrease in incidences of cancer. Tight junctions (TJs) are critical structures for the maintenance of cellular polarity, acting as paracellular permeability barriers and playing an essential role in regulating the diffusion of fluid, electrolytes and macromolecules through the paracellular pathway. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) have been implicated as possible mediators of invasiveness and metastasis in some cancers. In this study, we investigated the potential effects of water extract of aged black garlic (ABG) on the correlation between tightening of TJs and anti-invasive activity in human gastric carcinoma AGS cells. The inhibitory effects of ABG on cell motility and invasiveness were found to be associated with increased tightness of TJs, which was demonstrated by an increase in transepithelial electrical resistance. Additionally, the activities of MMP-2 and -9 in AGS cells were inhibited by treatment with ABG, and this was also correlated with a decrease in the expression of their mRNA and proteins. Furthermore, RT-PCR and immunoblotting results indicated that ABG repressed the levels of the claudin proteins, major components of TJs that play a key role in the control and selectivity of paracellular transport. In conclusion, these results suggest that ABG treatment may inhibit tumor metastasis and invasion, and therefore may act as a dietary source to decrease the risk of developing cancer.

• Journal of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute of Korea
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.559-567
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• 2012

A level set based topological shape optimization method for nonlinear structure considering hyper-elastic problems is developed. To relieve significant convergence difficulty in topology optimization of nonlinear structure due to inaccurate tangent stiffness which comes from material penalization of whole domain, explicit boundary for exact tangent stiffness is used by taking advantage of level set function for arbitrary boundary shape. For given arbitrary boundary which is represented by level set function, a Delaunay triangulation scheme is used for current structure discretization instead of using implicit fixed grid. The required velocity field in the actual domain to update the level set equation is determined from the descent direction of Lagrangian derived from optimality conditions. The velocity field outside the actual domain is determined through a velocity extension scheme based on the method suggested by Adalsteinsson and Sethian(1999). The topological derivatives are incorporated into the level set based framework to enable to create holes whenever and wherever necessary during the optimization.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.336-340
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• 2015

Three different types of polycarbonate (PC)/graphene oxide (GO) composites using diphenyl carbonate as a monomer were fabricated by melt polymerization. Those were the PC/GO composite (PC/GO) using a twin extruder, in-situ PC/GO composite (PC/GO-cat.) using a catalyst, and in-situ PC/GO composite (PC/GO-COCl) using a GO-COCl treated by -COCl, Chemical structures of the composites were confirmed by C-H and C=O stretching peak at $3000cm^{-1}$ and $1750cm^{-1}$, respectively. The slope for the storage (G') versus loss (G") modulus plot decreased with an increase in the heterogeneous property of polymer melts. So we can check the GO dispersion of the PC/GO composites using by the slop for G'-G" plot. According to the G'- G" slopes for three different types of PC/GO composites, GO was well dispersed within PC matrix in case of PC/GO and PC/GO-cat.. It was also confirmed by atomic force microscope (AFM) photos. One of the reasons for the poor GO dispersion of PC/GO-COCl is branching and crosslinking processes occurred during polymerization, which was further confirmed by a plot for the complex modulus versus phase difference.

• Journal of dental hygiene science
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.158-164
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• 2013

The most frequently encountered problems at fixture-implantation sites are lack of adequate bone and proximity to anatomic structures. It is generally accepted that growth factors play an essential role in the healing process and tissue formation, and they have become the focus of grafting materials research. The granules in platelets contain high concentrations of various growth factors. In particular, platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) is a second-generation platelet concentrate that allows the production of fibrin membranes enriched with platelets and growth factors from an anticoagulant-free blood harvest. This study investigated the in vitro effects of PRF on osteoblasts, in terms of the key cellular functions, and especially the effects on two growth factors, the homodimer of platelet-derived growth factor subunit B (BPDGF-BB) and transforming growth factor (TGF)-${\beta}1$, which are associated with wound healing and regeneration (i.e., proliferation and differentiation). The following parameters were investigated: PDGF-BB and TGF-${\beta}1$ levels in PRF, cell viability, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, type 1 collagen synthesis, and the expressions of osteoblast differentiation markers (ALP and runt-related transcription factor 2) and bone matrix proteins (type 1 collagen). The release of autologous growth factors from PRF was maintained for a reasonable period of time, and exerted positive effects on the proliferation and differentiation of osteoblasts. The use of PRF thus appears to be a promising method for enhancing bone healing and remodeling.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.69-85
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• 2013

Objectives: This study investigated the anti-osteoarthritic effects of Kyejiinsam-tang (hereinafter referred to KIT) on the monosodium iodoacetate (MIA)-induced osteoarthritis rats. Methods: Anti-oxidative effects of KIT were measured by scavenging activities of DPPH, reactive oxygen species (ROS) and nitric oxide (NO). Scavenging activities of anti-oxidation in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treated RAW 264.7 cells were also measured for inhibitory effects against the production of inflammatory mediators (tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$, interleukin-$1{\beta}$, interleukin-6). Osteoarthritis was induced in rats by injecting MIA in the knee joint. Rats were divided into a total of 4 groups (n=6). The normal group were not treated at all without inducing osteoarthritis whereas the control group were induced for osteoarthritis by MIA and oral medicated physiological saline per day. The positive comparison group was injected with MIA and after 7 days, 2 mg/kg of Indomethacin. The experimental group was injected with MIA and after 7 days was medicated with 34 mg/kg of KIT. Indomethacin and KIT were orally-medicated for each substance a total of 4 weeks, once per day. Weight-bearing on hind legs was measured every week after MIA injection. At the end of the experiment (5 weeks after MIA injection), micro CT (computed tomography)-arthrography and histopathological examinations on the articular structures of knee joint were performed. The effect on inflammatory cytokines and immunological cells in synovial fluid was measured. Volume of cartilage was measured by micro CT-arthrography. Injury to synovial tissue was measured by H & E (hematoxylin and eosin), Safranin-O immunofluorescence. Results: 1. Cytotoxicity against hFCs was insignificant. 2. KIT showed the potent full term for DPPH. 1. NO was significantly reduced by KIT (at 100, $200{\mu}g/m{\ell}$) and ROS was also reduced, but not significantly, by KIT (at $200{\mu}g/m{\ell}$). 2. IL-6 and IL-$1{\beta}$ were significantly reduced by KIT (at 100, $200{\mu}g/m{\ell}$) and TNF-${\alpha}$ was also reduced, but not significantly, by KIT (at $200{\mu}g/m{\ell}$). 1. In hind legs weight-bearing measurement, level of weight increased. 2. Functions of liver and kidney were not affected. 3. IL-$1{\beta}$ was significantly reduced and TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-6 were also reduced but not significantly. 4. PGE2 (prostaglandin E2), LTB4 (leukotriene B4) were significantly reduced in the KIT group. 5. MMP-9 (matrix metalloproteinase-9), TIMP-1 (tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-1) and Osteocalcin were significantly reduced in the KIT group. 6. Destruction of cartilage on micro CT arthrography was reduced but had no significant differences. 7. Histopathologically, injury to synovial membrane of the KIT group was decreased and proteoglycan content of KIT group was increased. Conclusions: According to this study, Kyejiinsam-tang has inhibiting effect on the progression of arthritis in MIA-induced osteoarthritis rat. Kyejiinsam-tang has anti-oxidants and anti-inflammation effects, and is related to inhibiting the activity of inflammatory cytokine and injury of volume in cartilage.