• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.221-227
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• 2009

For successful restoration of visual function by a visual neural prosthesis such as retinal implant, electrical stimulation should evoke neural responses so that the informat.ion on visual input is properly represented. A stimulation strategy, which means a method for generating stimulation waveforms based on visual input, should be developed for this purpose. We proposed to use the decoding of visual input from retinal ganglion cell (RGC) responses for the evaluation of stimulus encoding strategy. This is based on the assumption that reliable encoding of visual information in RGC responses is required to enable successful visual perception. The main purpose of this study was to determine the influence of inter-dependence among stimulated RGCs activities on decoding accuracy. Light intensity variations were decoded from multiunit RGC spike trains using an optimal linear filter. More accurate decoding was possible when different types of RGCs were used together as input. Decoding accuracy was enhanced with independently firing RGCs compared to synchronously firing RGCs. This implies that stimulation of independently-firing RGCs and RGCs of different types may be beneficial for visual function restoration by retinal prosthesis.

• 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.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.15 no.6
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• pp.872-877
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• 2008

This study was carried out to provide basic information related to improvement of flavor and consumption of cheonggukjang. Red ginseng cheonggukjang (RGC) and Rubus coreanum cheonggukjang (RCC) extracts were prepared, and their physicochemical characteristics were compared with either general cheonggukjang (GC) or non-fermented boiled soybean (BS). The moisture and crude fat contents were not significantly different among samples. RGC had the highest reducing sugar content and BS had the lowest. The free sugar content of RGC was higher than that of either GC or RCC, and the major free sugars present were glucose, fructose and sucrose. Seventeen free amino acids were detected in BS and cheonggukjang, and the content of free amino acids ranged from 1,233.8 to 2,599.6 mg/100 g. The greatest content of free amino acids was found in RGC. Color L, a and b values were highest in BS and lowest in RCC. The hardness and strength of RGC and RCC were lower than for GC.

• Journal of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.13-19
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• 2003

We present a study of the old open cluster Trumpler 5 (Tr 5), based on the CDS archival data. From the color-magnitude diagrams of Tr 5, we have found the positions of main-sequence turn-off (MSTO) and red giant clump (RGC) stars. Using the mean magnitude of the RGC stars, we have estimated the reddening toward Tr 5, E(B - V) = 0.60 $\pm$ 0.10. Using the stars common in two data sets and the theoretical isochrones of Padova group, we have estimated the distance modulus $V_o - M_v = 12.64 {\pm} 0.20 (d = 3.4 {\pm} 0.3 kpc)$, the metallicity [Fe/H) = -0.30 $\pm$ 0.10, and the age of 2.4 $\pm$ 0.2 Gyr (log t = 9.38). These metallicity and distance values are consistent with the relation between the metallicity and the Galactocentric distance of other old open clusters, for which we obtain the slope of ${\Delta}[Fe/H]/ R_{gc} = -0.064 {\pm} 0.010\;dex\;kpc^{-1}$.

• Journal of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.33-38
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• 2011

We study near-infrared properties of the old open cluster King 11, based on the 2MASS photometric data. We determine the location of the red giant clump(RGC) in the (K, J - K) colo-magnitude diagram and derive the distance modulus of King 11 to be $(m-M)_0$ = $12.50{\pm}0.10$ using the mean K magnitude of RGC. From the red giant branch slope - [Fe/H] relation we obtain the metallicity of this cluster, [Fe/H]=$-0.17{\pm}0.07$. The age and interstellar reddening of this cluster are estimated to be log t = $9.48{\pm}0.05$, E(B-V)=$0.90{\pm}0.03$, by applying Padova isochrone fits to the data.

• The Bulletin of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.53.2-53.2
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• 2010

Using the JHK 2MASS near-infrared data, we present photometry results for the old open cluster (OC) Trumpler 5 (Tr 5). From the near-infrared color-magnitude diagrams of Tr 5, we have located the position of the red giant clump (RGC) stars, and used the mean magnitude of the RGC stars in K-band to estimate the distance to Tr 5. From the Padova isochrone fittings, we have estimated the reddening, metallicity, and age of Tr 5. These parameters generally agree well with those obtained from the previous studies on Tr 5 and confirms that this cluster is an old OC with metallicity being metal-poorer than solar abundance, located in the anti-Galactic center region.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.555-563
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• 2017

Electrical stimulation through retinal prosthesis elicits both short and long-latency retinal ganglion cell (RGC) spikes. Because the short-latency RGC spike is usually obscured by electrical stimulus artifact, it is very important to isolate spike from stimulus artifact. Previously, we showed that topographic prominence (TP) discriminator based algorithm is valid and useful for artifact subtraction. In this study, we compared the performance of forward backward (FB) filter only vs. TP-adopted FB filter for artifact subtraction. From the extracted retinae of rd1 mice, we recorded RGC spikes with $8{\times}8$ multielectrode array (MEA). The recorded signals were classified into four groups by distances between the stimulation and recording electrodes on MEA (200-400, 400-600, 600-800, $800-1000{\mu}m$). Fifty cathodic phase-$1^{st}$ biphasic current pulses (duration $500{\mu}s$, intensity 5, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, $60{\mu}A$) were applied at every 1 sec. We compared false positive error and false negative error in FB filter and TP-adopted FB filter. By implementing TP-adopted FB filter, short-latency spike can be detected better regarding sensitivity and specificity for detecting spikes regardless of the strength of stimulus and the distance between stimulus and recording electrodes.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.45 no.11
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• pp.846-854
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• 2022

Neurons make long-distance connections via their axons, and the accuracy and stability of these connections are crucial for brain function. Research using various animal models showed that the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying the assembly and maintenance of neuronal circuitry are highly conserved in vertebrates. Therefore, to gain a deeper understanding of brain development and maintenance, an efficient vertebrate model is required, where the axons of a defined neuronal cell type can be genetically manipulated and selectively visualized in vivo. Placental mammals pose an experimental challenge, as time-consuming breeding of genetically modified animals is required due to their in utero development. Xenopus laevis, the most commonly used amphibian model, offers comparative advantages, since their embryos ex utero during which embryological manipulations can be performed. However, the tetraploidy of the X. laevis genome makes them not ideal for genetic studies. Here, we use Xenopus tropicalis, a diploid amphibian species, to visualize axonal pathfinding and degeneration of a single central nervous system neuronal cell type, the retinal ganglion cell (RGC). First, we show that RGC axons follow the developmental trajectory previously described in X. laevis with a slightly different timeline. Second, we demonstrate that co-electroporation of DNA and/or oligonucleotides enables the visualization of gene function-altered RGC axons in an intact brain. Finally, using this method, we show that the axon-autonomous, Sarm1-dependent axon destruction program operates in X. tropicalis. Taken together, the present study demonstrates that the visual system of X. tropicalis is a highly efficient model to identify new molecular mechanisms underlying axon guidance and survival.

• Journal of the Institute of Electronics Engineers of Korea SD
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• v.43 no.7 s.349
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• pp.13-19
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• 2006

A 5Gb/s cross coupled transimpedance amplifier (TIA) & limiting amp(LA), regulated cascode(RGC) is realized in a 0.18$\mu$m CMOS technology for optical printed circuit board applications. The optical receiver demonstrates $92.8db{\Omega}$ transimpedance and limiting amplifier gain, 5Gb/s bandwidth for 0.5pF photodiode capacitance, and 9.74mW power dissipation from 1.8V, 2.4V supply. Input stage impedance is $50{\Omega}$. The circuit was implemented on an optical PCB, and the 5Gb/s data output signal was measured with a good data eye opening.

• Journal of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.42 no.6
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• pp.135-144
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• 2009

We present JHK near-infrared photometric study for the old open cluster (OC) Trumpler 5 (Tr 5), based on the 2MASS data. From the color-magnitude diagrams of Tr 5, we have located the position of the red giant clump (RGC) stars, and used the mean magnitude of the RGC stars in K-band to estimate the distance to Tr 5, d = $3.1{\pm}0.1$ kpc ($(m-M)_0$ = $12.46{\pm}0.04$). From fitting the theoretical isochrones of Padova group, we have estimated the reddening, metallicity, and age : E(B-V) = $0.64{\pm}0:05$, [Fe/H] = $-0.4{\pm}0.1$ dex, and t = $2.8{\pm}0.2$ Gyr (log t = $9.45{\pm}0.04$), respectively. These parameters generally agree well with those obtained from the previous studies on Tr 5 and confirms that this cluster is an old OC with metallicity being metal-poorer than solar abundance, located in the anti-Galactic center region.