• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.196-204
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• 1994

The purpose of this clinical trial was to study the effectiveness of 5% potassium nitrate dentifrice as a daily home treatment of dentinal hypersensitivity. Thirty subjects with dentinal hypersensitivity were included in a 4-week, double-blind, parallel, comparative study. Stimuli used included mechanical, cold water and compressed air blasts. A subjective assessment of the degree of hypersensitivity for each stimulus was recorded. The results indicated that 5% potassium nitrate dentifrice, in comparision with a conventional fluoride dentifrice, reduced dentinal hypersensitivity to a significant degree. The therapeutic response to potassium nitrate was apparent within 2 weeks and increased continuously for the length of the study period. We conclude that 5% potassium nitrate dentifrice is an effective agent for the daily home treatment of dentinal hypersensitivity.

• Journal of the Korean Physical Society
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• v.73 no.9
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• pp.1225-1229
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• 2018

The Drosophila auditory system consists of four large basal segments: the arista, the funiculus, the pedicel, and the scape. When an acoustic stimulus is applied to the arista and the funiculus their mechanical vibrations are transmitted to chordotonal neurons in Johnston's organ where mechanoelectric transduction arises. We study the mechanotransduction mechanism in the Drosophila auditory system by using a laser Doppler vibrometer (LDV) and extracellular electrophysiology. We find that large and small peaks appear alternatively and that the antenna vibration is asymmetric depending on whether the pedicel and the scape are fixed. Interestingly, we find that this asymmetric vibration accompanies the alternating neural peak structure. Here, we propose a mathematical model to explain the alternating peak structure by using a model consisting of two opposing neurons that are modeled as strings. Generally, strings have tension only when they are elongated. This property allows the alternating neural peaks for asymmetric antenna motion.

• 제어로봇시스템학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2004.08a
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• pp.596-601
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• 2004

In this paper, we describe a study on the influence of the frequency variation of normal vibration using an integrated tactile display. It is necessary to consider this study because we want to find a method of displaying finer texture and know that the perception of fine textures is heavily influenced by temporal variation. Our tactile display system used in this experiment can simulate the micro shapes and roughness of surface textures by individual drives of a 6x8 pin array. Two experiments are performed. The first is a psychophysical experiment on the definition and range decision of roughness, and through the experiment, we clear up the meaning of roughness. The second is the main experiment about the frequency variation of normal vibration. We find the correlation between the vibration frequency and the texture and the condition for better display and perception of fine surfaces. The experimental results yielded two pieces of information. One is that lateral movement affects texture discrimination, and another is that normal vibration can make the perceived texture feel finer than real texture. That is, the vibrating stimulus is more effective for displaying a fine surface than static pressure, and it makes possible to display finer texture, exceeding the physical limit of the device.

• Journal of Biosystems Engineering
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.244-252
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• 2014

Purpose: The development of an efficient in vitro cell culture device to process various cells would represent a major milestone in biological science and engineering. However, the current conventional macro-scale in vitro cell culture platforms are limited in their capacity for detailed analysis and determination of cellular behavior in complex environments. This paper describes a microfluidic-based culture device that allows accurate control of parameters of physical cues such as pressure. Methods: A microfluidic device, as a model microbioreactor, was designed and fabricated to culture Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Chlamydomonas reinhardtii under various conditions of physical pressure stimulus. This device was compatible with live-cell imaging and allowed quantitative analysis of physical cue-induced behavior in yeast and microalgae. Results: A simple microfluidic-based in vitro cell culture device containing a cell culture channel and an air channel was developed to investigate physical pressure stress-induced behavior in yeasts and microalgae. The shapes of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Chlamydomonas reinhardtii could be controlled under compressive stress. The lipid production by Chlamydomonas reinhardtii was significantly enhanced by compressive stress in the microfluidic device when compared to cells cultured without compressive stress. Conclusions: This microfluidic-based in vitro cell culture device can be used as a tool for quantitative analysis of cellular behavior under complex physical and chemical conditions.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.285-293
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• 2018

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of height suppression of cucumber and tomato plug seedlings as affected by mechanical stimulus using brushing as environment-friendly method. Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L. 'Joeunbaekdadagi') and tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L. 'Mini Chal') seeds were sown in 40-cell plug trays ($54{\times}27.5{\times}5cm$) filled with growing medium on Oct. 9, 2017. The cultivation environment in a venlo-type glasshouse was maintained as cultivation temperature range of $15-25^{\circ}C$ and the relative humidity of $50{\pm}10%$. Nontreatment and diniconazole ($7.5mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$) application at 15 days after sowing were used as the control. In addition, brushing treatments in cucumber and tomato were applied interval of 2, 4 or 6 hrs for 15 and 20 days, respectively. Plant height, hypocotyl length, and internode length were inhibited for cucumber and tomato in the diniconazole treatment than in the control. The leaf size was reduced, both cucumber and tomato, while the SPAD increased under the diniconazole treatment. However, stem diameter of cucumber was the thickest in the 2 hrs brushing interval treatment. Fresh weights of shoot and root were the significantly lowest in the diniconazole treatment. Application of brushing improved seedlings quality by promoting dry weights of shoot and root, and compactness of tomato seedlings. The chlorophyll fluorescence of tomato seedlings drastically decreased with 2 hrs treatment, indicating that mechanical stress by brushing treatment. The relative growth rate of tomato seedlings was significantly lower in the diniconazole treatment, but cucumber seedlings were not significantly different in all treatments. As a results, height suppression of cucumber and tomato seedlings was best achievement in the diniconazole treatment by the chemical as growth regulator. In an environment-friendly point of view, however, it is considered that 2 hrs brushing interval treatment can be the applicability for replacing the chemical methods in plug seedling growth of cucumber and tomato.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.13-23
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• 1982

Effects of external pH and potassium concentrations on the electrical and mechanical properties were investigated on rabbit papillary muscle. Papillary muscles were perfused in horizontal chamber with Tris Tyrode solutions and action potential along with isometric tension was recorded simultaneously. Potassium concentrations were varied between 1 and 12 mM at low(6.9), normal(7.4) and high (7.9) external pH. The following results were obtained: 1) On rasing the potassium concentration from 1 to 12 mM resting membrane potentials decreased from $-88.8{\pm}2.8$ to $-66.4{\pm}1.2\;mV$ at normal pH and the amplitude of action potential decreased from $115.1{\pm}0.7$ to $97.5{\pm}2.8\;mV$. On lowering the potassium concentration, membrane hyperpolarized and at 1 mM potassium concentration resting potentials were $-107{\pm}2.2\;mV$. Duration of action potential especially $APD_{60}{\sim}APD_{90}$ increased($APD_{90}$: $214{\pm}15.8\;ms$ at 1 mM $K^+$ to $287{\pm}18.1\;ms$ at 12 mM $K^+$). 2) During acidosis membranes hyperpolarized by more than 20 mV within 1 min. and then slow recovery was observed during the following 10 min. During alkalosis membranes depolarized about 10 mV, which were maintained until washing with normal Tyrode solutions. 3) On lowering the external pH(7.9-6.5), duration of action potential increased progressively and it was most prominent at pH 6.5 and $K^+$ 1mM. 4) Magnitude of developed tension was $0.6{\pm}0.14\;g/mm^2$ at normal pH and potassium concentration (stimulus frequency : 60/min). Relative isometric tension to normal value increased along the increment of stimulus frequency($44.2{\pm}4.2%$ at 6/min to $271{\pm}86.7%$ at 180/min). Force-frequency relations were altered quantitatively during the perfusion with different external pH solutions. 5) Developed tension did not show marked variation within the range of $2{\sim}8\;mM$ potassium concentrations. Positive inotropism was observed at less than 2 mM $K^+$ and negative inotropism beyond 12 mM $K^+$ concentrations. From the above results we concluded that the effects of potassium ion concentration on electrical and mechanical properties of rabbit papillary muscle are related to the changes in surface negative charge due to acid base disturbances.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.8-18
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• 2000

Background: Intraperitoneal (IP) and intrathecal (IT) administration of $\alpha$-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazole-propionic (AMPA) and kainate (KA) receptor antagonist attenuate hyperalgesia in various models of persistent pain. The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of IP and IT LY293558, a novel AMPA/KA receptor antagonist on mechanical hyperalgesia after incision. Methods: Sprague-Dawley rats were anesthetized with halothane and underwent plantar incision. Two hours later, responses to mechanical stimuli were assessed using the response frequency to a nonpunctate mechanical stimulus and withdrawal threshold to calibrated von Frey filaments. One group of rats received vehicle, 5 or 10 mg/kg of LY293558 IP. In the other group, vehicle, 0.2, 0.5 or 2 nmol of LY293558 was administered IT. Ataxia and motor function were also evaluated. Results: Hyperalgesia was persistent in both the vehicle and 5 mg/kg group. IP administration of 10 mg/kg of LY293558 increased withdrawal threshold at 30 and 60 min after incision; deficits in rotorod performance were observed at 30, 60, 90 and 150 min. IT administration of 0.5 nmol of LY293558 increased the median withdrawal threshold at 30 and 60 min. Motor function was only impaired at 30 min. IT administration of 2 nmol produced hemiparesis. Again, inhibition of pain behaviors outlasted the effects on motor function. Conclusions: These data further suggest AMPA/KA receptors are important for the maintenance of pain behaviors caused by incisions. IT administration of LY293558 was more effective than systemic administration and reducing pain behaviors caused by a surgical incision.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.395-400
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• 2010

Hypertension is the chronic disease that the 16% of total population are suffering, and it needs to be studied to find alternative treatment because of the tolerance and side effect of medications that may bother some patients. in this paper, we verified practicality of implantable electrical stimulator that can readily change stimulus magnitude and frequency. And this device is possible to stimulate baroreflex or parasympathetic nerve. Therefore we performed in vitro tests and animal experiment for device's operating conditions. This device consist of implantable electrical stimulator and extracorporeal control/monitoring system. Stimulator was designed to make 1Hz~100Hz pulses and it can change continuous or periodic pulse train type. And this device can control stimulator's function and monitor stimulator's status and patients' blood pressure at exterior of body using ZigBee module as wireless telecommunication. We verified that stimulator have error rate under 5% at 50mm depth of organs and, stimulator makes high-efficiency energy with closer position of two electrodes. Also we can confirm the performance of device that decreasing blood pressure and heart rate of a rat by electrical stimulation.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.199-205
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• 2006

Objectives : The present study was conducted to evaluate the analgesic effects of automatically controlled heating acupuncture(ACHA) using 2 different pain models(acute pain and neuropathic pain) and 2 different stimulation conditions (heating $41.5^{\cdot}C$ and heating $44.5^{\cdot}C$) in Sprague-Dawley rats. Methods : Tail flick latency(TFL) to a noxious radiant heat stimulus in lightly anesthetized rats was measured before and after ACHA stimulation for 5-min at the Zusanli(ST36) acupoint. For the neuropathic surgery, the right superior caudal trunk was resected at the level between S1 and S2 spinal nerves innervating the tail. Two weeks after the nerve injury, ACHA stimulation($41.5^{\cdot}C$ or $44.5^{\cdot}C$) was delivered to Zusanli(ST36) for 5 min. The behavioral signs of warm allodynia were evaluated by the tail immersion test (i.e. immersing the tail in warm $water(40^{\cdot}C)$ and measuring the latency to an abrupt tail movement) before and after the ACHA stimulation. Results : In the TFL test, ACHA stimulations under both the conditions above produced more potent analgesic effects than plain acupuncture(PA, acupuncture needle insertion only) and control(no treatment). In the tail immersion test, ACHA stimulations under all of the conditions had markedly relieved the warm allodynia signs. Conclusion : Automatically controlled heating acupul1cture produced analgesic effecs in acute and neuropathic pains.

• The Transactions of the Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers D
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• v.50 no.5
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• pp.247-254
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• 2001

Silent period(SP) is transient stops of muscle activity that are induced by mechanical or electrical stimulus and the duration of silent period is a important parameter that have been associated with symptoms of masticatory dysfunction. Muscle fatigue is induced by sustained muscular contractions. It is associated with the external manifestations as the inability to maintain a desired force output, muscular tremor, and localized pain. Muscle fatigue is a parameter that have been measured or monitored the deterioration of a performance of muscles. On the study of relationship between SP and masticatory muscle fatigue, Nagasawa suggested that SP increases up to 3 min. from the beginning of clenching when the subjects performed sustained contractions at 50% maximum clenching level. In this paper, in order to evaluate a relationship between SP and muscle fatigue, 10 SPs per 1 minute are measured at 10%, 20%, 50% maximum clenching level. We used the median frequency in order to quantify the degree of muscle fatigue. However, the results shows that the duration of silent period was not significantly affected by differing levels of muscle fatigue. Therefore, we suggest that the SP is not increased or decreased as the results of muscle fatigue, also the origin of the SP generation mechanism is discussed.