• 생물정신의학
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• 제29권2호
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• pp.33-39
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• 2022

Objectives The early growth response 3 (EGR3) gene located in chromosome 8p21.3 is one of the susceptibility loci in many psychiatric disorders. EGR3 gene plays critical roles in signal transduction in the brain, which is involved in neuronal plasticity, neuronal development, learning, memory, and circadian rhythms. Recent studies have suggested EGR3 as a potential susceptibility gene for bipolar disorder (BPD). However, this requires further replication with an independent sample set. Methods To investigate the genetic role of EGR3 in Korean patients, we genotyped six single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the chromosome region of EGR3 in 1076 Korean BPD patients and 773 healthy control subjects. Results Among the six examined SNPs of EGR3 (rs17088531, rs1996147, rs3750192, rs35201266, rs7009708, rs1008949), SNP rs35201266, rs7009708, rs1008949 showed a significant association with BPD (p = 0.0041 for rs35201266 and BPD2, p = 0.0074 for rs1008949 and BPD, p = 0.0052 for rs1008949 and BPD1), which withstand multiple testing correction. In addition, the 'G-C-C-C' and 'G-C-G-C' haplotypes of EGR3 were overrepresented in the patients with BPD (p = 0.0055, < 0.0001, respectively) and the 'G-T-G-C' haplotype of EGR3 was underrepresented in patients with BPD (p = 0.0040). Conclusions In summary, our study supports the association of EGR3 with BPD in Korean population sample, and EGR3 could be suggested as a compelling susceptibility gene in BPD.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• 제31권1호
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• pp.89-100
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• 2023

This paper conducts a parametric study of a new tuned mass damper with pre-strained superelastic SMA helical springs (SMAS-TMD) on the vibration reduction effect. First, a force-displacement relation model of superelastic SMA helical spring is presented based on the multilinear constitutive model of SMA material, and the tension tests of the six SMA springs fabricated are implemented to validate the mechanical model. Then, a dynamic model of a single floor steel frame with the SMAS-TMD damper is set up to simulate the seismic responses of the frame, which are testified by the shaking table tests. The wire diameter, initial coil diameter, number of coils and pre-strain length of SMA springs are extracted to investigate their influences on the seismic response reduction of the frame. The numerical and experimental results show that, under different earthquakes, when the wire diameter, initial coil diameter and number of coils are set to the appropriate values so that the initial elastic stiffness of the SMA spring is between 0.37 and 0.58 times of classic TMD stiffness, the maximum reduction ratios of the proposed damper can reach 40% as the mass ratio is 2.34%. Meanwhile, when the pre-strain length of SMA spring is in a suitable range, the SMAS-TMD damper can also achieve very good vibration reduction performance. The vibration reduction performance of the SMAS-TMD damper is generally equal to or better than that of the classic optimal TMD, and the proposed damper effectively suppresses the detuning phenomena that often occurs in the classic TMD.

• 전기전자학회논문지
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• 제27권4호
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• pp.494-500
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• 2023

영상처리는 현재 다양한 분야에서 활용되고 있다. 그중 자율주행 자동차, 의료 영상처리, 로봇 제어 등은 빠른 영상처리 응답 속도가 필요하다. 이를 충족하기 위해 실시간 처리를 위한 하드웨어 설계가 활발히 연구되고 있다. 하드웨어 처리 속도는 입력 영상의 크기 외에도, 이미지에서 라인과 프레임을 구분하는 비활성화 영상 공백 구간의 크기에 영향을 받는다. 본 논문에서는 비활성화 영상 공백 구간과 밀접한 관련이 있는 라인메모리 유형에 따라 세 가지 스케일러 구조를 설계한다. 이 구조들은 Verilog 표준 언어를 사용하여 하드웨어로 설계되고, Xilinx Vivado 2023.1을 이용하여 field programmable gate array 환경에서 논리회로로 합성된다. 합성된 결과는 실시간 처리할 수 있는 표준 이미지 크기를 비교하면서 프레임 레이트 분석에 사용된다.

• 가정∙방문간호학회지
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• 제30권3호
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• pp.252-263
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• 2023

Purpose: To assess the feasibility, safety, and preliminary estimates of effectiveness of Tai Chi on the functional outcomes of older adults in the community. Methods: This was a mixed-method study that employed a single-group repeated measure design and in-depth interviews. Nine older adults were recruited from the community were recruited to participate in a Tai Chi program, conducted twice weekly for 6 months. Research outcomes included physical function, cognitive function, and quality of life, measured at intervals of 3 and 6 months. Findings: Tai Chi exercises were gradually conducted based on the health status of the older adults. All participants actively participated in the program with an average attendance of 90%. Consequently, the participants showed significant improvements in mobility and their memory recall ability at both 3 and 6 months. Additionally, the results of the Stroop test exhibited improvement 3 months after the commencement of the study program. Quality of life of the participants improved according to the mild cognitive impairment questionnaire, but it did not show significant improvement in health-related quality of life. Conclusion: The Tai Chi exercise program was a safe and, feasible program to improve the physical function, cognitive function, quality of life among the older adults in the community.

• 한국전기전자재료학회논문지
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• 제37권3호
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• pp.231-240
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• 2024

Titanium dioxide (TiO₂) holds significant scientific and technological relevance as a key photocatalyst and resistive random-access memory, demonstrating unique physicochemical properties and serving as an n-type semiconductor. Understanding the density and arrangement of oxygen vacancies (VOs) is crucial for tailoring TiO₂'s properties to diverse technological needs, driving increased interest in exploring oxygen vacancy complexes and superstructures. In this mini review, we summarize the recent understandings of the fundamental properties of oxygen vacancies in bulk rutile (R-TiO₂) and anatase (A-TiO₂) based on DFT and beyond method. We specifically focus on the excess electrons and their spatial arrangement of disordered single VO in bulk R and A-TiO₂, aligned with the experimental findings. We also highlight the theoretical works on investigating the geometries and stabilities of ordered VOs complexes in bulk TiO₂. This comprehensive review provides insights into the fundamental properties of excess electrons in reduced TiO₂, offering valuable perspectives for future research and technological advancements in TiO₂-based devices.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• 제48권1호
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• pp.68-76
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• 2024

Background: Although the survival outcomes of childhood cancer patients have improved, childhood cancer survivors suffer from various degrees of immune dysfunction or delayed immune reconstitution. This study aimed to investigate the effect of Korean Red Ginseng (KRG) on T cell recovery in childhood cancer patients who underwent autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (ASCT) from the perspective of inflammatory and senescent phenotypes. Methods: This was a single-arm exploratory trial. The KRG group (n = 15) received KRG powder from month 1 to month 12 post-ASCT. We compared the results of the KRG group with those of the control group (n = 23). The proportions of T cell populations, senescent phenotypes, and cytokine production profiles were analyzed at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months post-ASCT using peripheral blood samples. Results: All patients in the KRG group completed the treatment without any safety issues and showed a comparable T cell repopulation pattern to that in the control group. In particular, KRG administration influenced the repopulation of CD4⁺ T cells via T cell expansion and differentiation into effector memory cell re-expressing CD45RA (EMRA) cells. Although the KRG group showed an increase in the number of CD4⁺ EMRA cells, the expression of senescent and exhausted markers in these cells decreased, and the capacity for senescence-related cytokine production in the senescent CD28^- subset was ameliorated. Conclusions: These findings suggest that KRG promotes the repopulation of CD4⁺ EMRA T cells and regulates phenotypical and functional senescent changes after ASCT in pediatric patients with cancer.

• Clinical and Experimental Vaccine Research
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• 제12권2호
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• pp.156-171
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• 2023

Purpose: The development of vaccines that confer protection against multiple avian influenza A (AIA) virus strains is necessary to prevent the emergence of highly infectious strains that may result in more severe outbreaks. Thus, this study applied reverse vaccinology approach in strategically constructing messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccine construct against avian influenza A (mVAIA) to induce cross-protection while targeting diverse AIA virulence factors. Materials and Methods: Immunoinformatics tools and databases were utilized to identify conserved experimentally validated AIA epitopes. CD8⁺ epitopes were docked with dominant chicken major histocompatibility complexes (MHCs) to evaluate complex formation. Conserved epitopes were adjoined in the optimized mVAIA sequence for efficient expression in Gallus gallus. Signal sequence for targeted secretory expression was included. Physicochemical properties, antigenicity, toxicity, and potential cross-reactivity were assessed. The tertiary structure of its protein sequence was modeled and validated in silico to investigate the accessibility of adjoined B-cell epitope. Potential immune responses were also simulated in C-ImmSim. Results: Eighteen experimentally validated epitopes were found conserved (Shannon index <2.0) in the study. These include one B-cell (SLLTEVETPIRNEWGCR) and 17 CD8⁺ epitopes, adjoined in a single mRNA construct. The CD8⁺ epitopes docked favorably with MHC peptidebinding groove, which were further supported by the acceptable ∆G_bind (-28.45 to -40.59 kJ/mol) and Kd (<1.00) values. The incorporated Sec/SPI (secretory/signal peptidase I) cleavage site was also recognized with a high probability (0.964814). Adjoined B-cell epitope was found within the disordered and accessible regions of the vaccine. Immune simulation results projected cytokine production, lymphocyte activation, and memory cell generation after the 1st dose of mVAIA. Conclusion: Results suggest that mVAIA possesses stability, safety, and immunogenicity. In vitro and in vivo confirmation in subsequent studies are anticipated.

• 대한치매학회지
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• 제21권2호
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• pp.59-70
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• 2022

Background and Purpose: Neurofilament light chain (NfL) has been considered as a biomarker for neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer's disease (AD). We measured plasma NfL levels in older adults with cognitive complaints and evaluated their clinical usefulness in AD. Methods: Plasma levels of NfL, measured by using the single molecule array method, were acquired in a total of 113 subjects consisting of subjective cognitive decline (SCD; n=14), mild cognitive impairment (MCI; n=37), or dementia of Alzheimer type (DAT; n=62). Plasma NfL level was compared among three groups, and its association with cognitive and functional status was also analyzed. Results: After adjusting for age, plasma NfL level was higher in subjects with DAT (65.98±84.96 pg/mL), compared to in subjects with SCD (16.90±2.54 pg/mL) or MCI (25.53±10.42 pg/mL, p=0.004). NfL levels were correlated with scores of the mini-mental state examination (r=-0.242, p=0.021), clinical dementia rating (CDR) (r=0.291, p=0.005), or CDR-sum of boxes (r=0.276, p=0.008). Just for participants who performed amyloid positron emission tomography (PET), the levels were different between subjects with PET (-) (n=17, 25.95±13.25 pg/mL) and PET (+) (n=16, 63.65±81.90 pg/mL, p=0.010). Additionally, plasma NfL levels were different between vascular dementia and vascular MCI, and between Parkinson's disease- dementia and no dementia. Conclusions: This pilot study shows that in subjects with DAT, plasma NfL levels increase. Plasma NfL level correlated with cognitive and functional status. Further longitudinal studies may help to apply the plasma NfL levels to AD, as a potential biomarker for the diagnosis and predicting progression.

• 전자공학회논문지
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• 제49권9호
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• pp.251-258
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• 2012

SSD (Solid-state Drive), 더 나아가 SSS (Solid-state Storage System)와 같은 고성능 스토리지 요구 사항을 지원하기 위해 최근 낸드 플래시 메모리도 DRAM에서와 같이 SDR (Single Data Rate)에서 고속 DDR (Double Data Rate) 신호구조로 진화하고 있다. 이에 따라 PHY (Physical layer) 회로 기술을 적용하여 협소 타이밍 윈도우 내에서 유효 데이터를 안정적으로 래치하고, 핀 간 데이터 스큐를 최소화하는 것 등이 새로운 이슈로 부각되고 있다. 또한, 낸드 플래시 동작 속도의 증가는 낸드 플래시 컨트롤러의 동작 주파수 상승으로 이어지고 동작 모드에 따라 컨트롤러 내부 소모 전력 변동성이 급격히 증가한다. 공정 미세화와 저전력 요구에 의해 컨트롤러 내부 동작 전압이 1.5V 이하로 낮아지면서 낸드 플래시 컨트롤러 내부 전압 변화 마진폭도 좁아지므로 이러한 소모 전력 변동성 증가는 내부 회로의 정상 동작 범위를 제한한다. 컨트롤러의 전원전압 변동성은 미세공정으로 인한 OCV (On Chip Variation)의 영향이 증가함에 따라 더 심화되는 추세이고, 이러한 변동성의 증가는 순간적으로 컨트롤러의 보장된 정상 동작 범위를 벗어나게 되어 내부 로직의 오류를 초래한다. 이런 불량은 기능적 오류에 의한 것이 아니므로 문제의 원인 규명 및 해결이 매우 어렵게 된다. 본 논문에서는 낸드플래시 컨트롤러 내부의 비정상적 전원 전압 변동하에서도 유효 타이밍 윈도우를 경제적인 방법으로 유지할 수 있는 회로 구조를 제안하였다. 실험 결과 기존 PHY회로 대비 면적은 20% 감소한 반면 최대 데이터 스큐를 379% 감소시켜 동등한 효과를 보였다.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• 제13권1호
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• pp.3-14
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• 2002

아동에 가해지는 정신적 외상의 충격은 아동의 심리발달에 지울 수 없는 상처를 남김으로써 향후 심각한 정신장애를 일으키는 결정적 원인이 된다. 아동기 외상의 현상학적 특징과 외상에 관여하는 신경생물학적 기전을 살펴보았고, 아동기에 경험하는 외상이 인격의 발달에 미치는 영향과 그와 관련한 정신병리를 알아보았다. 외상에 노출된 아동은 공통적으로 자신이 경험한 공포사건을 시각적으로 재경험하거나 그 기억을 반복하며, 놀이나 행동을 통해서도 외상사건을 반복하려는 경향을 보인다. 일회의 충격적 사건에 노출된 아동은 사건에 대한 지나친 기억과 집착을 보이고 지각왜곡이 심한 반면 장기간 반복되는 외상을 경험하는 아동은 정신적 무감각과 자기최면, 해리, 분노의 경향이 두드러진다. 소아·청소년에서는 외상 후 퇴행이 보다 현저하고 시간감각의 왜곡이 더 심하게 나타나며 아동의 연령이 어릴수록 자율신경계의 반응성이 증가하는 경향을 보인다. 외상적 충격에 노출되면 뇌내에서 즉각적이고 방대한 신경전달물질의 방출이 있게되는데, 자율신경계, 면역계, 시상하부-뇌하수체-부신피질 축(hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis)이 활성화된다. 외상시 internal opiate가 활발한 작용을 하면서 아동으로 하여금 외상에 반응하지 않도록 하고 외상에 대한 감정반응 자체를 봉쇄할 수 있도록 해준다. 아동기 외상의 경우 central noradrenergic system에 변화가 초래되어 카테콜아민에 대해 과민감한 비정상적 소견을 보이게 된다. 체내 순환되는 cortisol 수치는 감소하고, glucocorticoid 수용체 농도와 반응성이 증가한다. 외상 후 발견되는 기억력 장애는 해마의 구조적 변화와 관련이 있는 것으로 보고되고 있다. 아동기 외상은 자기(self)와 대상(object)에 대한 내적 표상(internal representation)이 지속적으로 분화 발전하는 발달과정에서 일어난다는 점에서 인격의 발달에 심각한 영향을 미치게 된다. 해리, 신체화, 자학성, 자기애 장애의 정신병리로 발전하면서 경계성 인격장애, 자기애성 인격장애, 다중인격장애 등을 초래하게 된다.