• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.209-217
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• 2010

Retinal prostheses are being developed to restore vision for the blind with retinal diseases such as retinitis pigmentosa (RP) or age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Since retinal prostheses depend upon electrical stimulation to control neural activity, optimal stimulation parameters for successful encoding of visual information are one of the most important requirements to enable visual perception. Therefore, in this paper, we focused on retinal ganglion cell (RGC) responses to different voltage stimulation parameters and compared threshold charge densities in normal and rd1 mice. For this purpose, we used in vitro preparation for the retina of normal and rd1 mice on micro-electrode arrays. When the neural network of rd1 mouse retinas is stimulated with voltage-controlled pulses, RGCs in degenerated retina also respond to voltage amplitude or voltage duration modulation as well in wild-type RGCs. But the temporal pattern of RGCs response is very different; in wild-type RGCs, single peak within 100 ms appears while in RGCs in degenerated retina multiple peaks (~4 peaks) with ~10 Hz rhythm within 400 ms appear. The thresholds for electrical activation of RGCs are overall more elevated in rd1 mouse retinas compared to wild-type mouse retinas: The thresholds for activation of RGCs in rd1 mouse retinas were on average two times higher ($70.50{\sim}99.87\;{\mu}C/cm^2$ vs. $37.23{\sim}61.65\;{\mu}C/cm^2$) in the experiment of voltage amplitude modulation and five times higher ($120.5{\sim}170.6\;{\mu}C/cm^2$ vs. $22.69{\sim}37.57\;{\mu}C/cm^2$) in the experiment of voltage duration modulation than those in wild-type mouse retinas. This is compatible with the findings from human studies that the currents required for evoking visual percepts in RP patients is much higher than those needed in healthy individuals. These results will be used as a guideline for optimal stimulation parameters for upcoming Korean-type retinal prosthesis.

• Korean journal of applied entomology
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• v.52 no.4
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• pp.341-348
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• 2013

We desinged and evaluated a remote-sensing sex pheromone trap for real-time monitoring of Mythimna separata (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), a migratory insect in Korea. The system consisted of a modified cone-trap with a sex pheromone lure, a sensing module based on light interruption, a signal transmission module based on code division multiple access, a main electronic board for system control, a power supply based on a solar collector, a stainless steel-pole supporting the system, and a signal collection and display system based on an internet web page. The ratio (>92%) of the actual number of insects to the signal number in the remote-sensing trap was improved by sensing only within a limited period at night on the basis of the insect's circadian rhythm, control of signal sensitivity on the basis of sensing software programming, 1-h interval for signal transmission, and adjustment of the signal transmission program. The signal occurrence pattern in the remote-sensing trap was conclusively similar (correlation coefficient, >0.98) to the actual pattern of adult occurrence in the trap. The result indicated that the remote-sensing trap based on the attraction of the sex pheromone lure for M. separata has a promising potential for practical use. Occurrence of M. separata adults was observed several times in 2011 and 2012, and the peaks were sharp.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2012.08a
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• pp.313-313
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• 2012

In recent years there have been many studies of InGaN/GaN based light emitting diodes (LEDs) in order to progress the performance of luminescence. Many previous literatures showed the performance of LEDs by changing the LED structures and substrates. However, the studies carried out by the researchers so far were very complicated and sometimes difficult to apply in practice. Therefore, we propose one simple method of changing the thickness and the numbers of multiple quantum wells (MQWs) in order to optimize their effects. In our research, we investigated electrical and optical properties by changing the well thickness and the number of quantum well (QW) pair in LED structures by growing the structure -inch Si (111) wafer. We defined the samples from LED_1 to LED_3 according to MQW structure. Samples LED_1, LED_2 and LED_3 consist of 5-pair InGaN/GaN (3.5 nm/ 4.5 nm), 5-pair InGaN/GaN (3 nm/4.5 nm) and 7-pair InGaN/GaN (3.5 nm/4.5 nm), respectively. We characterized electrical and optical properties by using electroluminescence (EL) measurement. Also, Efficiency droop was analyzed by calculating external quantum efficiency (EQE) with varying injection current. The EL spectra of three samples show different emission wavelength peaks, FWHM and the blueshift of wavelength caused by screening the internal electric field because of the effect of different MQW structure. The results of optical properties show that the LED_2 sample reduce the internal electric field in QW than LED_1 from EL spectra. the increase in the number of QW pairs reduces the strain and increase the In composition in MQW. And, the points of efficiency droop's peak show different trend from LED_1 to LED_3. It is related with the carrier density in active region. Thus, from the results of experiments, we are able to achieve high performance LEDs and a reduction of efficiency droop and emission wavelength blueshift by optimizing MQWs structure.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.167-175
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• 2015

A retinal prosthesis is being developed for the restoration of vision in patients with retinitis pigmentosa (RP) and age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Determining optimal electrical stimulation parameters for the prosthesis is one of the most important elements for the development of a viable retinal prosthesis. Here, we investigated the effects of different charge-balanced biphasic pulses with regard to their effectiveness in evoking retinal ganglion cell (RGC) responses. Retinal degeneration (rd1) mice were used (n=17). From the ex-vivo retinal preparation, retinal patches were placed ganglion cell layer down onto an $8{\times}8$ multielectrode array (MEA) and RGC responses were recorded while applying electrical stimuli. For asymmetric pulses, 1st phase of the pulse is the same with symmetric pulse but the amplitude of 2nd phase of the pulse is less than $10{\mu}A$ and charge balanced condition is satisfied by lengthening the duration of the pulse. For intensities (or duration) modulation, duration (or amplitude) of the pulse was fixed to $500{\mu}s$($30{\mu}A$), changing the intensities (or duration) from 2 to $60{\mu}A$(60 to $1000{\mu}s$). RGCs were classified as response-positive when PSTH showed multiple (3~4) peaks within 400 ms post stimulus and the number of spikes was at least 30% more than that for the immediate pre-stimulus 400 ms period. RGC responses were well modulated both with anodic and cathodic phase-1st biphasic pulses. Cathodic phase-1st pulses produced significantly better modulation of RGC activity than anodic phase-1st pulses regardless of symmetry of the pulse.

• Journal of Aquaculture
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.409-417
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• 1996

Age, annual growth pattern, and other ecologically important observations are reporting from the analysis of annual growth annuli of the sun and moon scallop, Amusium japonicum. Field survey made from 1993 to 1994 indicated that the sun and moon scallops are mostly distributed along the southern coast of Cheju-do, especially around the Sogwipo area. They inhabit on muddy sand bottom, at depth between 30 and 40 m where water temperature varies from 14 to $23^{\circ}C$ annually. The gonadal analysis indicated that the spawning mostly occurs during October and December and they exhibit multiple spawning peaks. The formation of annual growth annuli was found to be related with their spawning period. The shell growth on A. japonium japonicum appeared that their shell growth rate is comparatively faster than that of other scallops : 1. japonium japonicum reaches 6.28 cm in shell hight at the first year and 9.07 cm at the second year. The growth rate of gonadal somatic tissue was also found to be faster than growth rates of other scallops. One year old scallops weigh about 18.8 g, two and three year old scallops weigh 60 and 102.4 g. Based upon these observations, it is concluded that A. japonium japonicum can be a valuable species for aquaculture development due to their rapid growth.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2013.08a
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• pp.298-298
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• 2013

Finding renewable and clean energy resources is essential research to solve global warming and depletion of fossil fuels in modern society. Recently, complex harvesting of energy from multiple sources is available in our living environments using a single device has become highly desirable, representing a new trend in energy technologies. We report that when simultaneously driving the fusion and composite cells of two or more types, it is possible to make an affect the other cells to obtain a greater synergistic effect. To understand the coupling effect of photovoltaic and piezoelectric device, we fabricate the serially integrated hybrid cell (s-HC) based on organic solar cell (OSC) and piezoelectric nanogenerator (PNG). The size of increased voltage peaks when OSC and PNG are working on is larger than the case when only PNG is working. This voltage difference is the Voc change of OSC, not the voltage change of PNG and current density difference between these two cases is manifested more clearly. When the OSC and PNG are working in s-HC at the same time, piezoelectric potential (VPNG) is generated in ZnO and theoretical total voltage is sum of voltage of an OSC (VOSC) and VPNG. However, electrons from OSC are influenced by piezoelectric potential in ZnO and current loss of OSC in whole circuit decreases. As a result, VOSC increases temporarily. Current shows the similar behavior. PNG acts a resistance in the whole circuit and current loss occurs when the electrons from OSC pass through the PNG. But piezoelectric potential recover current loss and decrease the resistance of PNG. Our PNG can maintain piezoelectric potential when the strain is held owing to the LDH layer while general PNG cannot maintain piezoelectric potential. During the section that strain is held, voltage enhancement effect is maintained and same effect appeared even turn off the light. Actually at this time, electrons in ZnO nanosheets move to LDH and trapped by the positive charges in this layer. After this strain is held, piezoelectric potential of ZnO nanosheets is disappeared but potential difference which is developed by negative charge dominant LDH layer is remained. This potential acts similar role like piezoelectric potential in ZnO. Electrons from the OSC also are influenced by this potential and the more current flows.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.110 no.1
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• pp.13-21
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• 2021

In this research, monoterpene emissions were investigated from pine trees(Pinus densiflora) and in the forest air in Simwon village at the Jiri Mountain. Air samples from an enclosed chamber and pine forest air were collected using a Tenax TA Tube five times a day(at 09:00, 11:00, 13:00, 15:00, and 17:00) on 1 day per month from March to November 2014. Selected needles and branches from individual pine trees were enclosed for the measurement of their monoterpene emissions. The concentration and composition of emitted monoterpenes were analyzed in a time series. The major components of monoterpenes emitted from pine trees were α-pinene, β-myrcene, β-phellandrene, and β-pinene. Seasonal data showed that the concentration of monoterpenes emitted from pine trees began increasing in June and reached its peak in August, decreasing thereafter. In addition, seasonal emissions of monoterpenes were dependent on environmental factors such as temperature. The major species of monoterpenes in forest air were α-pinene, β-pinene, and camphene. The concentration of monoterpenes in forest air began rising from March to April and reached its peak in May; multiple peaks subsequently formed in July and November. Diurnal variation in monoterpenes decreased from 09:00-10:00, reaching a low and high at 13:00-14:00 and 17:00-18:00, respectively.

• Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.299-308
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• 2007

Purpose: The aim of this study was to develop a bioinformatics software and to test it in serum samples of papillary thyroid cancer using mass spectrometry (SELDI-TOF-MS). Materials and Methods: Development of 'Protein analysis' software performing decision tree analysis was done by customizing C4.5. Sixty-one serum samples from 27 papillary thyroid cancer, 17 autoimmune thyroiditis, 17 controls were applied to 2 types of protein chips, CM10 (weak cation exchange) and IMAC3 (metal binding - Cu). Mass spectrometry was performed to reveal the protein expression profiles. Decision trees were generated using 'Protein analysis' software, and automatically detected biomarker candidates. Validation analysis was performed for CM10 chip by random sampling. Results: Decision tree software, which can perform training and validation from profiling data, was developed. For CM10 and IMAC3 chips, 23 of 113 and 8 of 41 protein peaks were significantly different among 3 groups (p<0.05), respectively. Decision tree correctly classified 3 groups with an error rate of 3.3% for CM10 and 2.0% for IMAC3, and 4 and 7 biomarker candidates were detected respectively. In 2 group comparisons, all cancer samples were correctly discriminated from non-cancer samples (error rate = 0%) for CM10 by single node and for IMAC3 by multiple nodes. Validation results from 5 test sets revealed SELDI-TOF-MS and decision tree correctly differentiated cancers from non-cancers (54/55, 98%), while predictability was moderate in 3 group classification (36/55, 65%). Conclusion: Our in-house software was able to successfully build decision trees and detect biomarker candidates, therefore it could be useful for biomarker discovery and clinical follow up of papillary thyroid cancer.

• Korean journal of applied entomology
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• v.60 no.4
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• pp.387-401
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• 2021

Thrips infesting hot peppers were monitored in greenhouses using yellow sticky traps. In addition, the hot peppers infected with tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) were observed during the monitoring period. The flower thrips (Frankliniella intonsa) were initially trapped at a low density just after transplanting seedlings of hot peppers at late March. The western flower thrips (Frankliniella occidentalis) were trapped after mid April. These two thrips represented more than 98% of the total thrips attracted to the traps after May, in which F. intonsa showed higher occurrence frequency than F. occidentalis. The total number of thrips had two peaks at mid May with a small and short-term peak and at June-July with a large and long-term peak. The trapped thrips exhibited inconsistent sex ratios, suggesting a seasonal parthenogenesis. Different geographical populations were varied in cytochrome oxidase I sequences, in which local populations in Andong shared a high sequence similarity. TSWV-infected hot peppers, which might be mediated by these two thrips species, were observed and confirmed by an immunoassay kit and a molecular diagnosis using RT-PCR. In addition, the TSWV was detected in F. occidentalis collected from the infected hot peppers. Three open reading frames (NS_S, N, and NS_M) of the isolated TSWV genomes were sequenced and showed multiple point mutations containing missense mutations among geographical variants. When the isolated TSWV was fed to nonvirulent thrips of F. occidentalis, the virus was detected in both larvae and adults. However, the viral replication occurred in larvae, but not in adults.

• Korean journal of applied entomology
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• v.16 no.4 s.33
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• pp.199-208
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• 1977

Activities of various hydrolytic enzymes produced by three plant pathogenic fungi, Sclerotium rolfsii Sacc., Sclerotinia sclerotiorum (Lieb.) deBary and Helminthosporium sigmoideum var. irregulare Crallery et Tullius, were measured. Activties and amounts of the enzymes in mycelia, cultural filtrates, and sclerotia(except of sclerotia of H. sigmoideum var. irregulare) were estimated at various pH levels in order to find out optimal pH for their enzymatic activities. Enzymes such as cellulase (ex), invertase, xylanase, $\beta-amylase$, polymethylgalacturonase, polygalacturonase, phosphatase and protease were estimated. Culture solution for production of enzymes was prepared by adding of 10g, D-glucose, 1.3g $NH_4NO_3,\; 0.5g\; MgSO_4,\;7H_2O,\; and\; 1.0g\; KH_2PO_4$ into 1 liter of potato decoction plus 2ml of micro element solution consisting of 0.2mg. Fe, 0.2mg Zn, and 0.1mg Mn as the sulphates into 1 liter of distilled water. All tested mycelia and cultural filtrates were obtained from the cultures incubarted in previous solution for ten days at $25^{\circ}C$, and sclerotia were harvested from PDA plates of 3. days old, The crude enzyme solutions were prepared according to the method of Miyazaki etal. Ten days after incubation, activities of Cx produced by Scl. sclerotiorum were higher than those of the other fung and each of Cx from three fungi showed different pH optima, such as S. rolfsii and Scl. schlerotiorum in acid side (around pH 3.0), H. sigmoideum var. irregulare in neutral side (around pH 6.3). Invertase activities of S. rolfsii were 20 times higher than those of the other fungi in all samples. All tested fungi, however, showed no significant difference between the enzymatic activities of their cultural filtrate and mycelia and the activities in sclerotia of S. rolfsii and Scl. sclerotiorum were hardly recognized. There were multiple peaks on the xylanase activity curves of three fungi in terms of pH values. High activities of the xylanase were revealed in sclerotia of S. rolfsii and Scl. sclerotiorum, and in mycelia of H. sigmoideum var. irregulare. The highest activities of $\beta-amylase$ were shown both in mycelia and cultural filtrate of H. sigmoideum var. irregulae among the tested fungi, and their optimal pH was 6.2 in both mycelia and cultural filtrate. In the S. rofsii and Sel. sclerotiorum, however, the activities of cultural filtrates were higher than those of the other fungi, and optimal pH was 3.0 and 6.2 for cultural filtrate and both mycelia and sclerotia, respectively. Activities of PMG were high in cultural filtrates of all tested fungi, especially in Scl. sclerotiorum and H. sigmoideum var. irregulare. Mycelia of themalso showed the considerable activities. Optimal pH for enzymatic activities were variable with thekind of fungi or with the samples measured. The highest activities of PG were presented by mycelia of S. rolfsii and Scl. sclerotiorum. $9.l\mu /min.\; and\; 9.5\mu g/min.$, respectively. Optimal pH for activity of PG in mycelia was around 4.5 in S. rolfsii and around 3.0 in Scl. sclerotiorum. Phosphatase of S. rolfsii and Scl. sclerotiorum was more active in acid side (optimal PH3. 5) and that of H. sigmoideum var. irregulare showed one peak each in acid, neutral and alkaline side. But the highest peak was at pH 9.5. Protease of all tested fungi was more active at pH 10.0, especially that of the cultural filtrate of H. sigmoideum var. irregualre.