• Journal of rehabilitation welfare engineering & assistive technology
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.27-33
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• 2009

Generally, implantable microphone has been implanted in the temporal bone for implantable middle ear hearing devices (IMEHDs). In this case, the microphone's membrane can be damaged and can be generated biological noise. In order to overcome the these problems, the location of implanted microphone should be changed. As an alternative, the microphone can be implanted in the external auditory canal. However, the sound emission can be produced because of vibration transducer toward reverse direction from the tympanic membrane to the external auditory canal. In this paper, an amount of the emitted sound is measured using a probe microphone as the changing the position of microphone in the external auditory canal of a physical ear model, which is similar to acoustical and vibratory properties of the human ear. Through the measured value, the location of the microphone was assumed in the external auditory canal. According to the analysis, the microphone input sound can be decreased when microphone position become more distance from the tympanic membrane in the auditory canal. However, the external auditory canal is not appropriated to implantable microphone position, because sound emission is not completely eliminated.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.41 no.spc1
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• pp.25-45
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• 1996

Soyfoods have potential roles in the prevention and treatment of chronic diseases, most notably cancer, osteoporosis, and heart disease. There is evidence that carcinogenesis are supressed by isolated soybean derived products in vivo such as a protease inhibitor, phytic acid, saponins and isoflavones. It is believed that supplementation of human diets with soybean products markedly reduces human cancer mortality rates. Especially, recent papers recognize the potential benefit of soybean isoflavone components for reducing the risk of various cancers. Isoflavones exhibit a multitude of medicinal effects that influence cell growth and regulation, which may have potential value in the prevention and treatment of cancer. In addition to potential biological effects, soybean isoflavones have the important physiological functions such as the induction of Bradyrizobium japonicum nod genes and the responses of soybean tissues to infection by Phytophthora megasperma as well as biochemical activities such as antifungal and antibacterial actions. Genistin, daidzin, glycitin and their aglycone (genistein, daidzein, glycitein) are the principal isoflavones found in soybean. Malonyl and acetyl forms have also been detected but they are thermally unstable and are usually transformed during the processing in glucoside form. Most soy products, with the exception of soy sauce, alcohol-extracted soy protein concentrate, and soy protein isolate, have total isoflavone concentrations similar to those in the whole soybean. Soybean-containing diets inhibit mammary tumorigenesis in animal models of breast cancer, therefore, it is possible that dietary isoflavones are an important factor accounting for the lower incidence and mortality from breast cancer. Of the total soybean seed isoflavones, $80\~90\%$ were located in cotyledons, with the remainder in the hypocotyls. The hypocotyls had a higher concentrations of isoflavones on a weight basis compared with cotyledons. Isoflavone contents were influenced by genetics, crop years, and growth locations. The effect of crop year had a greater impact on the isoflavone contents than that of location. The climate condition might be the attribution factor to variation in isoflavone contents. Also, while the isoflavone content of cotyledons exhibited large variations in response to high temperature during seed development, hypocotyls showed high concentration in isoflavone content. So, it is concluded that one of the factors affecting isoflavone content in soybean seeds is temperature during seed development. High temperature, especially in maturity stage, causes lower isoflavone content in soybean seed. It is also suggested that there may exist a different mechanism to maintain isoflavone contents between cotyledon and seed hypocotyls. In a conclusion, soy foods may be able to have a significant beneficial impact on public health.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.65-75
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• 2003

Objectives: To investigate the role of TGF (Transforming growth factor-$\beta$) involved in the paracrinic communication during decidualization between UEC (uterine epithelial cells) and USC (uterine stromal cells), we have employed a co-culture system composed of human endometrial epithelial and stromal cells in defined hormonal conditions. Design: In the co-culture, endometrial epithelial cells cultured in the matrigel-coated cell culture insert are seeded on top of the endometrial stromal cells cultured within a collagen gel. The co-culture was maintained for 48 hours under the following hormonal conditions: progesterone dominant condition (100 nM P4 and 1 nM E2) or estrogen-dominant condition (100 nM E2 and 1 nM P4). 10 ng/ ml HGF and/or 10 ng/ml TGF-$\beta$1 are added. Methods: RT-PCR is utilized to detect mRNAs quantitatively. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and immunohistochemical staining are utilized to detect proteins in the tissue. Results: Prolactin mRNA is expressed in the co-cultured stromal cells under the progesterone dominant condition. TGF-$\beta$1 and its receptors are expressed in both the co-cultured epithelial and stromal cells irrespective of the steroid present, which is in contrast with no or negligible expression of TGF-$\beta$1 or its receptor in cells separately cultured. Both estrogen and progesterone significantly elevate the concentration of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) in the conditioned medium of the co-culture with the value of 4, 325 pg/ml in E2-dominant and 2, 000 pg/ml in P4-dominant condition compare to 150 pg/ml in no hormone. In separately cultured stromal cells, administration of HGF induces the expression of TGF receptor 1 in both hormonal conditions, but induction of TGF receptor 2 is only manifest in the P4-dominant condition. Administration of TGF-$\beta$ and HGF directly induce the decidualization marker prolactin mRNA in separately cultured stromal cells. Conclusion: It is likely that steroid hormones induces prolactin mRNA indirectly by promoting the cell to cell communication between the stromal and the epithelial cells. TGF-$\beta$ and HGF are two possible paracrine mediators in the human endometrial decidualization.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.60-64
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• 1999

Objectives. Changes in lung function are frequently used as biological markers to assess the health effects of criteria air pollutants. We tried to formulate the prediction models of pulmonary functions based on height, weight, age and gender, especially for children aged 12 years who are commonly selected for the study of health effects of the air pollution. Methods. The target pulmonary function parameters were forced vital capacity(FVC) and forced expiratory volume in one second(FEV1). Two hundreds and fifity-eight male and 301 female 12-year old children were included in the analysis after excluding unsatisfactory tests to the criteria recommended by American Thoracic Sosiety and excluding more or less than 20% predicted value by previous prediction equations. The weight prediction equation using height as a independent variable was calculated, and then the difference of observed weight and predicted weight (i.e. residual) was used as the independent variable of pulmonary function prediction equations with height. Results. The prediction equations of FVC and FEV1 for male are FVC(ml) = $50.84{\times}height(cm)+7.06{\times}weight$ residual 4838.86, FEV1(ml) = $43.57{\times}height(cm)+3.16{\times}weight$ residual - 4156.66, respectively. The prediction equations of FVC and FEV1 for female are FVC(ml) = $42.57{\times}height(cm)+12.50{\times}weight$ residual - 3862.39, FEV1(ml) = $36.29{\times}height(cm)+7.74{\times}weight$ residual - 3200.94, respectively.

• The Korean Journal of Pesticide Science
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.71-78
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• 2004

A promising hyperparasite, Ampelomyces quisqualis 94013(AQ94013) was selected as a biological control agent to cucumber powdery mildew caused by Sphaerotheca fusca. Effect of agrochemicals on mycelium growth and spore germination of AQ94013 and effect of spread stickers on hyperparasitical activity of AQ94013 to powdery mildew pathogen were evaluated. Finally it was confirmed that mycelial growth and spore germination of AQ94013 on potato dextrose agar amended with two fungicides for controlling powdery mildew, triadimefon and pyrazophos; five fungicides for controlling downy mildew, dimethomorph, kasugamycin+copper oxychloride, dichlofluanid+copper oxychloride and tribasic copper sulfate; three fungicides for controlling gray mold, iprodione, vinclozolin and procymidone; and six insecticides immidacloprid, teflubenzuron, bifenthrin, ethofenprox, deltamethrin and phenthoate were slightly reduced. Addition of mineral oil in the spore suspension of AQ94013 enhanced 7.9% control value to cucumber powdery mildew.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.403-412
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• 2001

The Present study analyzed the pressure-flow characteristics of a Korean shunt valve. Changes in the characteristic currie depending on the design parameters were also investigated. The Korean shunt valve used in the present study was constant pressure type and our analyses were validated through experiments. We applied fluid-structure interaction to solve the flow dynamic Problem because the small diaphragm in the valve was made from flexible silicone elastomers. Considering the material nonlinearity of the hyper-elastic material. the Mooney-Rivlin approximation was employed. The results of the numerical analyses were close to the experimental results The major Pressure drop was observed to happen in the small diaphragm. The slope of the pressure-flow characteristic curve was computed to be 0.37mm$H_2O$.hr/cc, which was similar to the average value of commercial shunt valves. 0.40mm$H_2O$.hr/cc. Therefore. our valves analyzed in the Present study showed a Proper Pressure control characteristics of the constant pressure type shunt valves. The opening pressure could be controlled by adjusting the amount of predeflection of the valve diaphragm. In order to obtain opening pressures of 25mm$H_2O$ and 80mm$H_2O$, respectively, and the required predeflection was found to be 10.2$\mu$m and 35.3$\mu$m. The flow orifice size was found to be within 10$\mu$m during valve operation Therefore, Precision design and manufacturing techniques are necessary for successful operations of the shunt valve. The study indicated the amount of predeflection as well as the magnitude of corner rounding of the diaphragm edge are important design parameters to influence the slope of the pressure-flow characteristic curve.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.439-448
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• 2001

This paper considers the acoustical characteristics of the closing click sounds of the mechanical valves employed in an implantable biventricular assist device (BYAD) and their re1evance to the Physical states of the valved. Bj rk Shiley Convexo Concave tilting disk valve was chosen for the study and acoustic measurement was made for the BYAD operated in a mock circulatory system as well as implanted in an animal (sheep). In the BYAD operated in the mock circulatory system. three different states of the valve were examined, ie. normal. mechanically damaged. pseudo-thrombus attached. Microphone measurement for the BVAD implanted in the animal was carried out for five days at a regular time interval from one day after implantation. Characteristic spectrum of the sound from the valve was estimated using Multiple Signal Classification (MUSIC) in which the optimal order was determined according to Bayesian Information Criterion (BIC) . It was observed that the mechanical damage of the valve resulted in changes of the structure of the acoustic spectrum. In contrast. the thrombus formed on the valve did not change much the basic structure of the spectrum but brought about altering the spectral Peak frequencies and energies. Maximum spectral Peak (MSP) with the greatest energy was seen at 2 kHz for the normal valve and it was shifted to 3 kHz for the calve attaching the Pseudo-thrombus. Unlike the normal valve, strong spectral Peak appeared around 7 kHz in the sound from the valve mechanically damaged. In the case of the BYAD implanted in the animal. as the thrombus grew, acoustic energy was reduced relatively more in the low frequency components (〈 2 kHz) and the frequencies of the 1st, 2nd and 3rd MSP were increased little. The thrombus formation would result in reduction in both the variability of the 1st, 2nd and 3rd MSP and the value of the BIC optimal order.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.77-82
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• 2003

Virtual colonoscopy is a non-invasive computerized procedure to detect polyps by examining the colon from a CT data set. To fly through the inside of colons. the extraction of a suitable flight-path is necessary to Provide the viewpoint and view direction of a virtual camera. However. manual path extraction by Picking Points is a very time-consuming and difficult task due 1,c, the long and complex shape of colon. Also, existing automatic methods are computationally complex. and tend to generate an improper and/or discontinuous path for complicated regions. In this paper, we propose a fast flight-path generation algorithm using the distance and order maps. The order map Provides all Possible directions of a path. The distance map assigns the Euclidean distance value from each inside voxel to the nearest background voxel. By jointly using these two maps. we can obtain a proper centerline regardless of thickness and curvature of an object. Also, we Propose a simple smoothing technique that guarantees not to collide with the surface of an object. The phantom and real colon data are used for experiments. Experimental results show that for a set of human colon data, the proposed algorithm can provide a smoothened and connected flight-path within a minute on an 800MHz PC. And it is proved that the obtained flight-Path provides successive volume-rendered images satisfactory for virtual navigation.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.178-186
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• 2007

This study is attempted to correct an error of electronic blood pressure meter with an optical sensor. In general, for a hospitalized patient, ECG, blood pressure, oxygen saturation, and respiration are basically measured to monitor the patient's condition. Opening of a blood vessel after it is occluded by pressurizing the cuff influences the blood flow of peripheral blood vessels as well as oscillation changes in the cuff. Blood vessels are occluded and peripheral blood flow disappears at cuff pressure above the examinee's blood pressure, while blood vessels are opened and peripheral blood flow appears again at cuff pressure under the examinee's blood pressure. Then Disappear-Appear Point Length(DAPL) of peripheral blood flow can be judged with the signal of peripheral blood flow, thus is available as a factor of error correction for electronic blood pressure meter. Also, systolic or diastolic blood pressure can be corrected with Appear-Point-Pressure(APP) of cuff pressure at a point where blood flow occurs and Appear-Maximum Pressure(AMP) of cuff pressure at the maximum amplitude point of peripheral blood flow after peripheral blood flow appears again. For verification, 27 examinees were selected, and their blood value was obtained through experimental procedure of 4 stages including induction of blood pressure change. The examinees were divided into two groups of experimental group and control group, regression analysis was conducted for experimental group, and correction of a blood pressure error was verified with optical signal by applying the regression equation calculated in experimental group to control group. As an experimental result, mean of the whole measurement errors was 5mmHg or more, which did not meet the standard fur blood pressure meter. As a result of correcting blood pressure measurements with data of DAPL, APP, and AMP as drawn out of PPG signal, systolic blood pressure, mean blood pressure, and diastolic blood pressure were $-0.6{\pm}4.4mmHg,\;-1.0{\pm}3.9mmHg$ and $-1.3{\pm}5.4mmHg$, respectively, indicating that mean of the whole measurement errors was greatly improved, and standard deviation was decreased.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.64-68
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• 2010

The mosquito, Aedes albopictus is important vector of humen phatogen such as dengue fever. And Aedes albopictus has widly distribution in oriental regions. This study was conducted to investigate the biological effects of cooper on the development of the Asian tiger mosquitoes, Aedes albopictus (Skuse). Aedes albopictus was affected with pupation ratios, mortalities, and wing lengths of the 3th and 4th instars by exposure to different concentration $CuCl_2$ (0.0, 2.5, 25.0 and 50.0 ppm) for 24 h and 48 h depending on dose and exposure period. The lowest $LC_{50}$ (median lethal concentration) value of $CuCl_2$ was 18.1 ppm at the 3rd instars for 48 h exposure. The pupation ratio of the larvae exposed at 50.0 ppm for 48 h was 14% which was much lower than those exposed to other treatment groups Changes of adult wing length showed significant decreased by Cu treatment. In conclusion, the most prominent effects of high concentration and longer exposure period were to reduce in the survival and pupation rates of larvae and wing length of Ae. albopictus.