• Journal of the Korean Geosynthetics Society
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.39-44
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• 2006

The resistance of flexible PVC geomembranes to leachate chemicals is an important factor when PVC geomembranes are being considered as a barrier layer in a composite liner system. This paper describes laboratory test results that evaluate the chemical compatibility of a 0.76 mm (30 mil) thick flexible PVC geomembrane exposed to a synthetic municipal solid waste (MSW) leachate. Changes in dimensional, physical, and mechanical properties were measured after exposure to the synthetic MSW leachate at $23^{\circ}C$ and $50^{\circ}C$ for 30, 60, 90, and 120 days. Although some variability of the test results is observed due to experimental factors and product variability, the synthetic MSW leachate did not significantly degrade the physical or mechanical properties of the flexible PVC geomembrane. As a result, this paper will conclude the PVC geomembranes are not adversely affected by the synthetic MSW leachate.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2010.02a
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• pp.280-280
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• 2010

태양전지의 효율을 증가시키는 방법에는 표면 패시베이션, 접촉면적의 가변, back contact의 두께 가변 등이 있다. 특히, back contact 두께의 가변을 통하여 open circuit voltage의 감소를 최소화 할 수 있을 것이라고 전망 되고 있다. open circuit voltage 은 회로가 개방된 상태로, 무한대의 임피던스가 걸린 상태에서 빛을 받았을 때 태양전지의 양단에 전위차가 형성된다. 본 연구에서는 back contact 두께 가변에 따른, open circuit voltage의 변화를 확인하고 분석하는 것에 그 일차적인 초점을 두었다. 또한, open circuit voltage 뿐만 아니라, short circuit current density, fill factor, series resistance 등의 분석을 하였으며, efficiency를 계산하여 back contact 두께의 가변에 따른 소자 특성의 변화 분석을 통하여 최적화된 back contact위 두께를 연구하였다. 접촉면적에 따른 소자의 성능 변화는 후면 $SiN_X$ 70nm가 open circuit voltage를 15mV ~ 20mV 감소시키는 것을 확인 할 수 있었다. 그 이유는 $SiN_X$가 너무 두꺼우면 BSF 덜 형성되기 때문이다. 최종적으로 $SiN_X$ 두께를 얇게하면 open circuit voltage 의 감소를 최소화 할 수 있을 것이라는 판단을 할 수 있다. 이에, back contact인 $SiN_X$ 두께 가변에 따른 open circuit voltage의 변화를 확인하였다. $SiN_X$ 두께가 증가함에 따라, Positive charges 와 Hydrogen 함유량이 증가하며, 이에 BSF 두께 감소하였다. 또한, $SiN_X$ 두께가 감소함에 따라 Doping barrier로서 역할을 못하게 되어 후면에 n+층 형성되어 open circuit voltage가 급격히 하락하였다. 본 연구에서는 back contact인 $SiN_X$ 두께를 10nm, 30nm, 50nm, 80nm 로 가변하며 실험을 진행하였다.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.65-68
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• 2006

It was examined the effect of fermented rice wine using mycelium of Phellinus linteus (FWPL) on the gastric mucosa of rat. The gastric mucosal lesions were not seen macroscopically in normal, but ethanol-administrated rats produced congestion and edema with a few local lesions. The administration of FWPL showed a similar pattern as like normal except trace histopathological changes. The results of Western blot analyses showed that the higher expression of inducible nitric oxygenase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase (COX)-1, COX-2, tumor necrosis factor-$\alpha$ and c-fos, especially COX-2, in the ethanol-administrated rat compared with normal rat. But FWPL-administrated rat showed a trace increase of these expression compared to normal rat. About immunohistochemical observations, weaker iNOS reactions were detected in mucous cells of epithelim of ethanol administrated rat compared with normal and FWPL-administrated rat. These results suggested that FWPL-administrated rat showed a trace changes on the mucus barrier-related protein expression compared with ethanol-administrated rat and thus FWPL may be use to develop a functional alcoholic beverage.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.149-157
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• 2017

The interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1RA) is a potential stroke treatment candidate. Intranasal delivery is a novel method thereby a therapeutic protein can be penetrated into the brain parenchyma by bypassing the blood-brain barrier. Thus, this study tested whether intranasal IL-1RA can provide neuroprotection and brain penetration in transient cerebral ischemia. In male Sprague-Dawley rats, focal cerebral ischemia was induced by middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) for 1 h. The rats simultaneously received 50 mg/kg human IL-1RA through the intranasal (IN group) or intraperitoneal route (IP group). The other rats were given 0.5 mL/kg normal saline (EC group). Neurobehavioral function, infarct size, and the concentration of the administered human IL-1RA in the brain tissue were assessed. In addition, the cellular distribution of intranasal IL-1RA in the brain and its effect on proinflammatory cytokines expression were evaluated. Intranasal IL-1RA improved neurological deficit and reduced infarct size until 7 days after MCAO (p<0.05). The concentrations of the human IL-1RA in the brain tissue 24 h after MCAO were significantly greater in the IN group than in the IP group (p<0.05). The human IL-1RA was confirmed to be co-localized with neuron and microglia. Furthermore, the IN group had lower expression of $interleukin-1{\beta}$ and tumor necrosis $factor-{\alpha}$ at 6 h after MCAO than the EC group (p<0.05). These results suggest that intranasal IL-1RA can reach the brain parenchyma more efficiently and provide superior neuroprotection in the transient focal cerebral ischemia.

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.17 no.5
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• pp.463-473
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• 2011

Purpose: Cervical cancer can be prevented by regular cervical screening. Embarrassment has been reported as one important barrier to cervical screening uptake. The absence of appropriate instrumentation, however, has limited our understanding of the links between embarrassment and health care outcomes. The purpose of this study was to evaluate psychometric attributes of the uterine cervical cancer screening embarrassment questionnaire. Methods: A convenience sample for field study was recruited from four gynecological clinics in Gyeongju, Korea. Within a cross-sectional descriptive design, 339 women who had cervical screening completed self-administered measures of embarrassment including a visual analogue, general medical embarrassment, dispositional embarrassment, and Pap smear related negative emotion. Results: Rasch analysis of items demonstrated the evidence of one-dimensional construct and good 7-point rating scales functioning. Factor analysis revealed that uterine cervical cancer screening embarrassment was comprised of two domains-bodily manifestations and perceiving an undesirable social face. Construct validity was demonstrated by a high subscale-to-subscale correlation. Convergent and discriminant validity was evidenced by significant correlations with a 100 mm VAS scale, general medical embarrassment, and Pap smear related negative emotion. Known-group validity was established by comparing women with high versus low trait embarrassment. Both two sub-scales and overall scale demonstrated good internal reliability. Conclusion: The Uterine uterine cervical cancer screening questionnaire is a reliable and valid instrument suited to assessing the manifestations of embarrassment during screening. The use of instrument can be extended to understand the client's embarrassment undergoing health examinations which require the exposure of their private parts.

• Annals of dermatology
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.645-652
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• 2018

Background: Adiponectin, an adipokine secreted from adipocytes, affects energy metabolism and also shows anti-diabetic and anti-inflammatory properties. Recent studies have reported that adiponectin plays a role in regulating skin inflammation. Objective: This study aimed to investigate the effect of adiponectin on the expression of filaggrin (FLG) in normal human epidermal keratinocytes (NHEKs). Methods: NHEKs were serum-starved for 6h before being treated with adiponectin. Afterward, cell viability was assessed by MTT assay. We also treated with calcium, interleukin (IL)-4, and IL-13 to provide positive and negative comparative controls, respectively. Gene mRNA expression was quantified using real time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, and protein expression was evaluated using Western blot. To evaluate the relationship among mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs), activator protein 1 (AP-1), and FLG, we also treated cells with inhibitors for MAPKs JNK, p38, and ERK1/2. Results: FLG and FLG-2 mRNA expression in NHEKs significantly increased after treatment with $10{\mu}g/ml$ adiponectin. Adiponectin also restored FLG and FLG-2 mRNA expression that was otherwise inhibited by treatment with IL-4 and IL-13. Adiponectin induced FLG expression via AP-1 and MAPK signaling. Conclusion: Adiponectin positively regulated the expression of FLG and could be useful as a therapeutic agent to control diseases related to disrupted skin barrier function.

• BMB Reports
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• v.52 no.10
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• pp.613-618
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• 2019

Microglial cells are known as the main immune cells in the central nervous system, both regulating its immune response and maintaining its homeostasis. Furthermore, the antioxidant ${\alpha}-lipoic$ acid (LA) is a recognized therapeutic drug for diabetes because it can easily invade the blood-brain barrier. This study investigated the effect of ${\alpha}-LA$ on the inflammatory response in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treated BV-2 microglial cells. Our results revealed that ${\alpha}-LA$ significantly attenuated several inflammatory responses in BV-2 microglial cells, including pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as tumor necrosis $factor-{\alpha}$ and interleukin (IL)-6, and other cytotoxic molecules, such as nitric oxide and reactive oxygen species. In addition, ${\alpha}-LA$ inhibited the LPS-induced phosphorylation of ERK and p38 and its pharmacological properties were facilitated via the inhibition of the nuclear factor kappa B signaling pathway. Moreover, ${\alpha}-LA$ suppressed the activation of NOD-like receptor pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasomes, multiprotein complexes consisting of NLRP3 and caspase-1, which are involved in the innate immune response. Finally, ${\alpha}-LA$ decreased the genes accountable for the M1 phenotype, $IL-1{\beta}$ and ICAM1, whereas it increased the genes responsible for the M2 phenotype, MRC1 and ARG1. These findings suggest that ${\alpha}-LA$ alleviates the neuroinflammatory response by regulating microglial polarization.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.62 no.6
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• pp.712-722
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• 2019

Objective : Although magnetic resonance guided focused ultrasound (MRgFUS) has been used as minimally invasive and effective neurosurgical treatment, it exhibits some limitations, mainly related to acoustic properties of the skull barrier. This study was undertaken to identify skull characteristics that contribute to optimal ultrasonic energy transmission for MRgFUS procedures. Methods : For ex vivo skull experiments, various acoustic fields were measured under different conditions, using five non-embalmed cadaver skulls. For clinical skull analyses, brain computed tomography data of 46 patients who underwent MRgFUS ablations (18 unilateral thalamotomy, nine unilateral pallidotomy, and 19 bilateral capsulotomy) were retrospectively reviewed. Patients' skull factors and sonication parameters were comparatively analyzed with respect to the cadaveric skulls. Results : Skull experiments identified three important factors related skull penetration of ultrasound, including skull density ratio (SDR), skull volume, and incidence angle of the acoustic rays against the skull surface. In clinical results, SDR and skull volume correlated with maximal temperature (Tmax) and energy requirement to achieve Tmax (p<0.05). In addition, considering the incidence angle determined by brain target location, less energy was required to reach Tmax in the central, rather than lateral targets particularly when compared between thalamotomy and capsulotomy (p<0.05). Conclusion : This study reconfirmed previously identified skull factors, including SDR and skull volume, for successful MRgFUS; it identified an additional factor, incidence angle of acoustic rays against the skull surface. To guarantee successful transcranial MRgFUS treatment without suffering these various skull issues, further technical improvements are required.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.149-157
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• 2019

This study is to evaluate the accuracy of a human papillomavirus(HVP) vaccination behavior model based on the health belief model. The subjects were 285 mothers of adolescent daughters and the data was collected from June to September, 2017. The data were analyzed using SPSS, AMOS programs. The results, perceived benefits had effects on the vaccinating behavior by completely mediating the intention while the perceived barriers had effects on the vaccinating behavior by partially mediating the intention. The vaccination intention was shown to be an important variable for predicting of vaccination behaviors while the perceived barrier was revealed to be the most influential factor for vaccination behaviors. These results could contribute to raise the understanding about HVP vaccination processes in the mothers of adolescent daughters and to develop strategies to enhance the HVP vaccination rate.

• Journal of the Semiconductor & Display Technology
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.138-143
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• 2022

We analyzed the influence of post-annealing on Ga₂O₃/n-type 4H-SiC heterojunction diode. Gallium oxide (Ga₂O₃) thin films were deposited by radio frequency (RF) sputtering. Post-deposition annealing at 950℃ in an Oxygen atmosphere was performed. The material properties of Ga₂O₃ and the electrical properties of the diodes were investigated. Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM), X-Ray Diffraction and Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) images show a significant increase in the roughness and crystallinity of the O₂-annealed films. After Oxygen annealing X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) shows that the atomic ratio of oxygen increases which is related to a decrease in oxygen vacancy within the Ga₂O₃ film. The O₂-annealed diodes exhibited higher on-current and lower leakage current. Moreover, the ideality factor, barrier height, and thermal activation energy were derived from the current-voltage curve by increasing the temperature from 298 - 434K.