• Natural Product Sciences
• /
• v.12 no.4
• /
• pp.175-192
• /
• 2006

Screening for the cytotoxicity from plant origin is the first stage for anti-cancer drug development. A variety of terpenoids with exomethylene, epoxide, allyl, $\alpha,\beta-unsaturated$ carbonyl, acetylenes, and $\alpha-methylene-\gamma-lactone$ induces apoptosis and/or differentiation as well as cytotoxicity through the ROS signal transduction pathways. These are found among monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes, triterpenes, flavonoids, coumarins, diarylheptanoids, and even organosulfuric compounds. The most essential characteristics of natural cytotoxic substances is to possess the strong electrophilicity that is susceptible to nucleophilic biomolecules in the cell. Thiol-reductants and superoxide dismutase can block or delay apoptosis. Thus, ROS and the resulting cellular redox-potential changes can be parts of the signal transduction pathway during apoptosis. Disturbance of the balance of oxireduction by the pigment of natural quinones also caused the induction of the differentiation and apoptosis. Saponins with the cytotoxicity are restricted to their monodesmosides, rather than to bisdesmosides. Those saponins exhibited calcium ion-mediated apoptosis in addition to cytotoxicity whereas they showed also differentiation without extracellular calcium ion. The properties on cytotoxicity, apoptosis, and differentiation were assumed to depend on resultant oxidative stress to the cells. In this review, we describe a spectrum of cytotoxic compounds with various action mechanisms.

• Analytical Science and Technology
• /
• v.12 no.4
• /
• pp.346-353
• /
• 1999

For the non-destructive multi-elemental analysis of environmental and biological materials, instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) was applied for the determination of toxic and trace elements in a set of three Algae samples provided by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). The analytical quality control was evaluated by comparing the analytical results of two standard reference materials of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST); Oyster Tissue (SRM 1566a) and Citrus Leaves (SRM 1572). According to given analytical procedure, the concentration of 15-25 elements including spiked elements such as As, Cd, Cr and Hg in Algae samples were determined. To identify and validate these results, a data intercomparison program using more than 35 analytical methods in 150 laboratories was carried out and the estimated statistical data are summarized. Result of INAA is favorable, therefore, it is illustrated that can be applied for routine analysis of essential and toxic elements in algae samples as well as analytical quality assurance.

• Ceramist
• /
• v.22 no.1
• /
• pp.36-55
• /
• 2019

Atomically thin two-dimensional (2D) nanomaterials, including transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs), graphene, boron nitride, and black phosphorus, have opened up new opportunities for the next generation optoelectronics owing to their unique properties such as high absorbance coefficient, high carrier mobility, tunable band gap, strong light-matter interaction, and flexibility. In this review, photodetectors based on 2D nanomaterials are classified with respect to critical element technology (e.g., active channel, contact, interface, and passivation). We discuss key ideas for improving the performance of the 2D photodetectors. In addition, figure-of-merits (responsivity, detectivity, response speed, and wavelength spectrum range) are compared to evaluate the performance of diverse 2D photodetectors. In order to achieve highly reliable 2D photodetectors, in-depth studies on material synthesis, device structure, and integration process are still essential. We hope that this review article is able to render the inspiration for the breakthrough of the 2D photodetector research field.

• Sleep Medicine and Psychophysiology
• /
• v.15 no.1
• /
• pp.5-11
• /
• 2008

Sleep is an essential process maintaining the life cycle of the human. In parallel with physiological, cognitive, subjective, and behavioral changes that take place during the sleep, there are remarkable changes in the electroencephalogram (EEG) that reflect the underlying electro-physiological activity of the brain. However, analyzing EEG and relating the results to clinical observations is often very hard due to the complexity and a huge data amount. In this article, I introduce several linear and non-linear tools, developed to analyze a huge time series data in many scientific researches, and apply them to EEG to characterize various sleep states. In particular, the spectral analysis, detrended fluctuation analysis (DFA), and synchrony analysis are administered to EEG recorded during nocturnal polysomnography (NPSG) processes and daytime multiple sleep latency tests (MSLT). I report that 1) sleep stages could be differentiated by the spectral analysis and the DFA ; 2) the gradual transition from Wake to Sleep during the sleep onset could be illustrated by the spectral analysis and the DFA ; 3) electrophysiological properties of narcolepsy could be characterized by the DFA ; 4) hypnic jerks (sleep starts) could be quantified by the synchrony analysis.

• Publications of The Korean Astronomical Society
• /
• v.30 no.2
• /
• pp.321-325
• /
• 2015

Determining the absolute neutrino mass scale and the neutrino mass hierarchy are central goals in particle physics, with important implications for the Standard Model. However, the final answer may come from cosmology, as laboratory experiments provide measurements for two of the squared mass differences and a stringent lower bound on the total neutrino mass - but the upper bound is still poorly constrained, even when considering forecasted results from future probes. Cosmological tracers are very sensitive to neutrino properties and their total mass, because massive neutrinos produce a specific redshift-and scale-dependent signature in the power spectrum of the matter and galaxy distributions. Stringent upper limits on ${\sum}m_v$ will be essential for understanding the neutrino sector, and will nicely complement particle physics results. To this end, we describe here a series of cosmological hydrodynamical simulations which include massive neutrinos, specifically designed to meet the requirements of the Baryon Acoustic Spectroscopic Survey (BOSS) and focused on the Lyman-${\alpha}$ ($Ly{\alpha}$) forest - also a useful theoretical ground for upcoming surveys such as SDSS-IV/eBOSS and DESI. We then briefly highlight the remarkable constraining power of the $Ly{\alpha}$ forest in terms of the total neutrino mass, when combined with other state-of-the-art cosmological probes, leaving to a stringent upper bound on ${\sum}m_v$.

• Earthquakes and Structures
• /
• v.2 no.2
• /
• pp.171-187
• /
• 2011

Rational scaling of design earthquake ground motions for tall buildings is essential for safer, risk-based design of tall buildings. This paper provides the structural designers with an insight for more rational scaling based on drift and input energy demands. Since a resonant sinusoidal motion can be an approximate critical excitation to elastic and inelastic structures under the constraint of acceleration or velocity power, a resonant sinusoidal motion with variable period and duration is used as an input wave of the near-field and far-field ground motions. This enables one to understand clearly the relation of the intensity normalization index of ground motion (maximum acceleration, maximum velocity, acceleration power, velocity power) with the response performance (peak interstory drift, total input energy). It is proved that, when the maximum ground velocity is adopted as the normalization index, the maximum interstory drift exhibits a stable property irrespective of the number of stories. It is further shown that, when the velocity power is adopted as the normalization index, the total input energy exhibits a stable property irrespective of the number of stories. It is finally concluded that the former property on peak drift can hold for the practical design response spectrum-compatible ground motions.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
• /
• v.49 no.4
• /
• pp.792-800
• /
• 2017

The essential requirement of a material to be used for engineering purposes at nuclear establishments is its ability to attenuate the most penetrating ionizing radiations, gamma $({\gamma})-rays$. Mostly, high-Z materials such as heavy concrete, lead, mercury, and their mixtures or alloys have been used in the construction of nuclear establishments and thus termed as nuclear engineering materials (NEM). The NEM are classified into two categories, namely opaque and transparent, depending on their behavior towards the visible spectrum of EM waves. The majority of NEM are opaque. By contrast, various types of glass, which are transparent to visible light, are necessary at certain places in the nuclear establishments. In the present study, ${\gamma}-ray$ shielding behaviors (GSB) of six glass samples (transparent NEM) were evaluated and compared with some opaque NEM in a wide range of energy (15 keV-15 MeV) and optical thickness (OT). The study was performed by computing various ${\gamma}-ray$ shielding parameters (GSP) such as the mass attenuation coefficient, equivalent atomic number, and buildup factor. A self-designed and validated computer-program, the buildup factor-tool, was used for various computations. It has been established that some glass samples show good GSB, thus can safely be used in the construction of nuclear establishments in conjunction with the opaque NEM as well.

• Korean Journal of Optics and Photonics
• /
• v.11 no.5
• /
• pp.340-346
• /
• 2000

Traveling wave type semiconductor optical amplifiers integrated with spot-size-converter (SSC-TW-SOA) have been extensively studied for the improvement of coupling effiClency With single-mode fiber and fO! the cost reducClon 111 a packaging In tlIis paper the slructural dependence of the spot-slZe-converter on the effective facet reflectlvllY $R_{eff}$ was experimentally as well as thcoretienlly mvestlgated. It was shown that not only a sufficient mode-conversion in a sse region along the latersl and tran~verse directions but also an introductIOn of angled-facet were very essential in order to reduce $R_{eff}$ Very small ripple less than 0.1 dB in an amplified spontaneous emission spectrum was observed with the fabncated SSC-lW-SOA which consists of the wrndow length of $20\mu\textrm{m}$, facet angle of $7^{\circ}$, and antlrelleetioll-coated facet of ] % reflectivity.tivity.

• Journal of Electrical Engineering and Technology
• /
• v.9 no.5
• /
• pp.1753-1761
• /
• 2014

Due to the inherent inhomogeneous and anisotropy nature of the composite materials, the detection of internal defects in these materials with non-destructive techniques is an important requirement both for quality checks during the production phase and in service inspection during maintenance operations. The estimation of the time-of-arrival (TOA) and/or time-of-flight (TOF) of the ultrasonic echoes is essential in ultrasonic non-destructive testing (NDT). In this paper, we used split-spectrum processing (SSP) combined with matching pursuit signal decomposition (MPSD) to develop a dedicated ultrasonic detection system. SSP algorithm is used for Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) enhancement, and the MPSD algorithm is used to decompose backscattered signals into a linear expansion of chirplet echoes and estimate the chirplet parameters. Therefore, the combination of SSP and MPSD (SSP-MPSD) presents a powerful technique for ultrasonic NDT. The SSP algorithm is achieved by using Gaussian band pass filters. Then, MPSD algorithm uses the Maximum Likelihood Estimation. The good performance of the proposed method is experimentally verified using ultrasonic traces acquired from three specimens of carbon fibre reinforced polymer multi-layered composite materials (CFRP).

• Korean Journal of Remote Sensing
• /
• v.32 no.1
• /
• pp.67-71
• /
• 2016

The surface reflectance is essential to retrieval various indicators related land properties such as vegetation index, albedo and etc. In this study, we estimated surface reflectance using Himawari-8 / Advanced Himawari Imager (AHI) channel data. In order to estimate surface reflectance from Top of Atmosphere (TOA) reflectance, the atmospheric correction is necessary because all of the TOA reflectance from optical sensor is affected by gas molecules and aerosol in the atmosphere. We used Second Simulation of a Satellite Signal in the Solar Spectrum Vector (6SV) Radiative Transfer Model (RTM) to correct atmospheric effect, and Look-Up Table (LUT) to shorten the calculation time. We verified through comparison Himawri-8 / AHI surface reflectance and Proba-V S1 products. As a result, bias and Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) are calculated about -0.02 and 0.05.