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Robust Design for Showerhead Thermal Deformation

  • Gong, Dae-Wi;Kim, Ho-Jun;Lee, Seung-Mu;Won, Je-Hyeong
    • Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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    • 2014.02a
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    • pp.150.1-150.1
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    • 2014
  • Showerhead is used as a main part in the semiconductor equipment. The face plate flatness should remain constant and the cleaning performance must be gained to keep the uniformity level of etching or deposition in chemical vapor deposition process. High operating temperature or long period of thermal loading could lead the showerhead to be deformed thermally. In some case, the thermal deformation appears very sensitive to showerhead performance. This paper describes the methods for robust design using computational fluid dynamics. To reveal the influence of the post distribution on flow pattern in the showerhead cavity, numerical simulation was performed for several post distributions. The flow structure appears similar to an impinging flow near a centered baffle in showerhead cavity. We took the structure as an index to estimate diffusion path. A robust design to reduce the thermal deformation of showerhead can be achieved using post number increase without ill effect on flow. To prevent the showerhead deformation by heat loading, its face plate thickness was determined additionally using numerical simulation. The face plate has thousands of impinging holes. The design key is to keep pressure drop distribution on the showerhead face plate with the holes. This study reads the methodology to apply to a showerhead hole design. A Hagen-Poiseuille equation gives the pressure drop in a fluid flowing through such hole. The assumptions of the equation are the fluid is viscous-incompressible and the flow is laminar fully developed in a through hole. An equation can be expressed with radius R and length L related to the volume flow rate Q from the Hagen-Poiseuille equation, $Q={\pi}R4{\Delta}p/8{\mu}L$, where ${\mu}$ is the viscosity and ${\Delta}p$ is the pressure drop. In present case, each hole has steps at both the inlet and the outlet, and the fluid appears compressible. So we simplify the equation as $Q=C(R,L){\Delta}p$. A series of performance curves for a through hole with geometric parameters were obtained using two-dimensional numerical simulation. We obtained a relation between the hole diameter and hole length from the test cases to determine hole diameter at fixed hole length. A numerical simulation has been performed as a tool for enhancing showerhead robust design from flow structure. Geometric parameters for the design were post distribution and face plate thickness. The reinforced showerhead has been installed and its effective deposition profile is being shown in factory.

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Splitting of Surface Plasmon Resonance Peaks Under TE- and TM-polarized Illumination

  • Yoon, Su-Jin;Hwang, Jeongwoo;Lee, Myeong-Ju;Kang, Sang-Woo;Kim, Jong-Su;Ku, Zahyun;Urbas, Augustine;Lee, Sang Jun
    • Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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    • 2014.02a
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    • pp.296-296
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    • 2014
  • We investigate experimentally and theoretically the splitting of surface plasmon (SP) resonance peaks under TE- and TM-polarized illumination. The SP structure at infrared wavelength is fabricated with a 2-dimensional square periodic array of circular holes penetrating through Au (gold) film. In brief, the processing steps to fabricate the SP structure are as follows. (i) A standard optical lithography was performed to produce to a periodic array of photoresist (PR) circular cylinders. (ii) After the PR pattern, e-beam evaporation was used to deposit a 50-nm thick layer of Au. (iii) A lift-off processing with acetone to remove the PR layer, leading to final structure (pitch, $p=2.2{\mu}m$; aperture size, $d=1.1{\mu}m$) as shown in Fig. 1(a). The transmission is measured using a Nicolet Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) at the incident angle from $0^{\circ}$ to $36^{\circ}$ with a step of $4^{\circ}$ both in TE and TM polarization. Measured first and second order SP resonances at interface between Au and GaAs exhibit the splitting into two branches under TM-polarized light as shown in Fig. 1(b). However, as the incidence angle under TE polarization is increased, the $1^{st}$ order SP resonance peak blue-shifts slightly while the splitting of $2^{nd}$ order SP resonance peak tends to be larger (not shown here). For the purpose of understanding our experimental results qualitatively, SP resonance peak wavelengths can be calculated from momentum matching condition (black circle depicted in Fig. 2(b)), $k_{sp}=k_{\parallel}{\pm}iG_x{\pm}jG_y$, where $k_{sp}$ is the SP wavevector, $k_{\parallel}$ is the in-plane component of incident light wavevector, i and j are SP coupling order, and G is the grating momentum wavevector. Moreover, for better understanding we performed 3D full field electromagnetic simulations of SP structure using a finite integration technique (CST Microwave Studio). Fig. 1(b) shows an excellent agreement between the experimental, calculated and CST-simulated splitting of SP resonance peaks with various incidence angles under TM-polarized illumination (TE results are not shown here). The simulated z-component electric field (Ez) distribution at incident angle, $4^{\circ}$ and $16^{\circ}$ under TM polarization and at the corresponding SP resonance wavelength is shown in Fig. 1(c). The analysis and comparison of theoretical results with experiment indicates a good agreement of the splitting behavior of the surface plasmon resonance modes at oblique incidence both in TE and TM polarization.

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ZnO 나노 입자가 분산 된 Resin을 이용한 굴절률 조절 및 광 산란 패턴 형성을 통한 비정질 실리콘 박막태양전지의 효율 향상

  • Ko, Bit-Na;Kim, Jae-Hyeon;Kim, Gyu-Tae;Sin, Ju-Hyeon;Jeong, Pil-Hun;Chu, So-Yeong;Choe, Hak-Jong;Hyeon, Seok;Lee, Heon
    • Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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    • 2014.02a
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    • pp.295-295
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    • 2014
  • 일반적으로 박막 태양전지의 효율은 박막 종류에 따른 광 흡수율에 의해 결정되며, 이는 증착한 박막의 두께에 의해 결정된다. 증착한 박막의 두께가 두꺼워질수록 광 흡수율은 증가하지만, 박막 두께가 지나치게 두꺼워지면 열화 현상으로 인한 모듈의 효율 감소가 생기므로 적절한 박막의 두께가 요구된다. 특히 a-Si:H의 경우 가시광 영역에서 높은 흡수계수를 가지고 있어서 얇은 박막 두께로도 태양전지의 제작이 가능하지만, 동일한 박막 두께에서 효율을 더욱 향상시키기 위한 다양한 광 포획 기술에 대한 연구가 많이 진행 되고 있다. 본 연구에서는 자외선을 이용한 nano-imprint lithography 기술을 이용하여 a-Si:H 태양전지의 유리기판 위에 pattern을 삽입하여 광 산란 효과를 향상 시키고자 하였다. 또한 유리기판의 굴절률 (n=1.5)과 투명전극의 굴절률 (n=1.9)의 중간 값을 갖는 ZnO nanoparticles (n=1.7)이 분산 된 imprinting resin을 사용함으로써 점진적으로 굴절률을 변화시켜, 최종적으로 a-Si:H 층까지의 광 투과율을 높이고자 하였다. 제작한 기판의 종류는 다음과 같다. 첫 번째 기판으로는 유리기판 위에 ZnO nanoparticles이 분산 된 imprinting resin을 spin-coating 하여 점진적인 굴절률의 변화에 의한 투과도 향상을 확인하고자 하였다. 두 번째 기판으로는 규칙적인 배열을 갖는 micro 크기의 패턴을 형성하였다. 마지막으로는 불규칙한 배열을 갖는 nano 크기와 micro 크기가 혼재 된 패턴을 형성하여 투과도 향상과 동시에 빛의 산란을 증가시키고자 하였다. 후에 이 세가지 종류를 기판으로 사용하여 a-Si:H 기반의 박막 태양전지를 제작하였다. 먼저 제작한 박막 태양전지용 기판의 광학적 전기적 특성을 분석하였다. 유리 기판 위에 형성한 패턴에 의한 roughness 변화를 확인하기 위해 atomic force microscopy (AFM)를 이용하여 시편의 표면을 측정하였다. 또한 제작한 유리 기판 위에 투명 전극층을 형성 후, 이로 인한 전기적 특성의 변화를 확인하기 위해 hall measurement system을 이용하여 sheet resistance, carrier mobility, carrier concentration 등의 특성을 측정하였다. 또한, UV-visible photospectrometer 장비를 이용하여 각 공정마다 시편의 광학적 특성(투과도, 반사도, 산란도, 흡수도 등)을 측정하였고, 최종적으로 제작한 박막 태양전지의 I-V 특성과 외부양자효율을 측정하여 태양전지의 효율 변화를 확인하였다. 그 결과 일반적인 유리에 기판에 제작된 a-Si:H 기반의 박막 태양전지에 비해, ZnO nanoparticles이 분산 된 imprinting resin을 spin-coating 하여 점진적인 굴절률 변화를 준 것만으로도 약 12%의 태양전지 효율이 증가하였다. 또한, micro 크기의 패턴과 nano-micro 크기가 혼재된 패턴을 형성한 경우 일반적인 유리를 사용한 경우에 비해 각각 27%, 36%까지 효율이 증가함을 확인하였다.

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Fabrication of Microwire Arrays for Enhanced Light Trapping Efficiency Using Deep Reactive Ion Etching

  • Hwang, In-Chan;Seo, Gwan-Yong
    • Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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    • 2014.02a
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    • pp.454-454
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    • 2014
  • Silicon microwire array is one of the promising platforms as a means for developing highly efficient solar cells thanks to the enhanced light trapping efficiency. Among the various fabrication methods of microstructures, deep reactive ion etching (DRIE) process has been extensively used in fabrication of high aspect ratio microwire arrays. In this presentation, we show precisely controlled Si microwire arrays by tuning the DRIE process conditions. A periodic microdisk arrays were patterned on 4-inch Si wafer (p-type, $1{\sim}10{\Omega}cm$) using photolithography. After developing the pattern, 150-nm-thick Al was deposited and lifted-off to leave Al microdisk arrays on the starting Si wafer. Periodic Al microdisk arrays (diameter of $2{\mu}m$ and periodic distance of $2{\mu}m$) were used as an etch mask. A DRIE process (Tegal 200) is used for anisotropic deep silicon etching at room temperature. During the process, $SF_6$ and $C_4F_8$ gases were used for the etching and surface passivation, respectively. The length and shape of microwire arrays were controlled by etching time and $SF_6/C_4F_8$ ratio. By adjusting $SF_6/C_4F_8$ gas ratio, the shape of Si microwire can be controlled, resulting in the formation of tapered or vertical microwires. After DRIE process, the residual polymer and etching damage on the surface of the microwires were removed using piranha solution ($H_2SO_4:H_2O_2=4:1$) followed by thermal oxidation ($900^{\circ}C$, 40 min). The oxide layer formed through the thermal oxidation was etched by diluted hydrofluoric acid (1 wt% HF). The surface morphology of a Si microwire arrays was characterized by field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM, Hitachi S-4800). Optical reflection measurements were performed over 300~1100 nm wavelengths using a UV-Vis/NIR spectrophotometer (Cary 5000, Agilent) in which a 60 mm integrating sphere (Labsphere) is equipped to account for total light (diffuse and specular) reflected from the samples. The total reflection by the microwire arrays sample was reduced from 20 % to 10 % of the incident light over the visible region when the length of the microwire was increased from $10{\mu}m$ to $30{\mu}m$.

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Raw Starch-digesting Amylase is Comprised of two Distinct Domains of Catalytic and Substrate-Adsorbable Domain: Role of the C- Terminal Region in Raw-Starch-Binding

  • Kim, Cheorl-Ho
    • Proceedings of the Korean Society for Applied Microbiology Conference
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    • 2001.06a
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    • pp.40-45
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    • 2001
  • Raw starch-digesting amylase (BF-2A, M.W. 93, 000 Da) from Bacillus circulans F-2 was converted to two components during digestion with subtilisin. Two components were separated and designated as BF-2A' (63, 000 Da) and BF-2B (30, 000 Da), respectively. BF-2A' exhibited the same hydrolysis curve for soluble starch as the original amylase (BF-2A). Moreover, the catalytic activities of original and modified enzymes were indistinguishable in $K_{m}$, Vmax for, and in their specific activity for soluble starch hydrolysis. However, its adsorbability and digestibility on raw starch was greatly decreased. Furthermore, the enzymatic action pattern on soluble starch was greatly different from that of the BF-2A. A smaller peptide (BF-2B) showed adsorb ability onto raw starch. By these results, it is suggested that the larger peptide (BF-2A') has a region responsible for the expression of the enzyme activity to hydrolyze soluble substrate, and the smaller peptide (BF-2B) plays a role on raw starch adsorption. A similar phenomenon is observed during limited proteinase K, thermolysin, and endopeptidase Glu-C proteolysis of the enzyme. Fragments resulting from proteolysis were characterized by immunoblotting with anti-RSDA. The proteolytic patterns resulting from proteinase K and subtilisin were the same, producing 63- and 30-kDa fragments. Similar patterns were obtained with endopeptidase Glu-C or thermolysin. All proteolytic digests contained a common, major 63-kDa fragment. Inactivation of RSDA activity results from splitting off the C-terminal domain. Hence, it seems probable that the protease sensitive locus is in a hinge region susceptible to cleavage. Extracellular enzymes immunoreactive toward anti-RSDA were detected through whole bacterial cultivation. Proteins of sizes 93-, 75-, 63-, 55-, 38-, and 31-kDa were immunologically identical to RSDA. Of these, the 75-kDa and 63-kDa proteins correspond to the major products of proteolysis with Glu-C and thermolysin. These results postulated that enzyme heterogeneity of the raw starch-hydrolysis system might arise from the endogeneous proteolytic activity of the bacterium. Truncated forms of rsda, in which the gene sequence encoding the conserved domain had been deleted, directed the synthesis of a functional amylase that did not bind to raw starch. This indicates that the conserved region of RSDA constitutes a raw starch-binding domain, which is distinct from the active centre. The possible role of this substrate-binding region is discussed.d.

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Respiratory Sinus Arrhythmia: Methods of Measurement and Interpretations of Tonic and Dynamic Vagal Cardiac Drive Index in Psychophysiology of Emotions

  • Estate M.Sokhadze;Lee, Jong-Mi;Park, Mi-Kyung;Sohn, Jin-Hun
    • Proceedings of the Korean Society for Emotion and Sensibility Conference
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    • 2000.11a
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    • pp.81-87
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    • 2000
  • Beat-to-beat changes in heart period (heart period variability, HPV) are mediated by fluctuations in autonomic activity. Spectral analysis is used to quantify such fluctuations in the range of 0.15-0.40 Hz (high frequency, HF), which are influenced primarily by parasympathetic factors. These fluctuations are often referred to as RSA (respiratory sinus arrhythmia), the physiological phenomenon extracted by spectral analysis and other methods including histograms of heart rate ( HR), deviations of HR etc. Respiratory sinus arrhythmia indexing with peak-to-valley method suggested by Grossman et at., (1981) yields a simple range statistic and is quantified on breath-by-breath basis, thus being quite sensitive and less dependent on recording time as compared to spectral analysis. It is strongly recommended to use at least 1 min epoch to asses HF component of HPV and at least 2 min fer low frequency (LF) of HPV and even 5 min far valid clinical assessment. Peak-to-valley statistic is limited to RSA index only, but has its pragmatic advantages. Most important is possibility of its application far relatively small epoch analysis. We used short periods (20,30, 40 sec only) and off-line analysis of RSA using ECG and respiration curve this method of assessment and proved that this method is more practically effective. The RSA index was not so far dependent on respiration pattern differences and reflected actual vagal control of HR and were accompanied by low HR under some high stress conditions and in an aversive affective visual stimulation experiments. Another factor that might modulate cardiac chronotropic response is the interaction of sympathetic and parasympathetic inputs on sino-atrial (SA) node level, because responses to vagal influences are known to be proportional to ongoing sympathetic activity, that is so called accentuated antagonism. Since sympathetic outflow (increment of influences on SA) under negative emotions or stress was high in almost all physiological responses, vagal effects on HR could be therefore potentiated, leading to masking of output cardiac response seen in HPV, In the case of moderate sympathetic activation, on the other hand, autonomic interactions in cardiac control appear to be minimal. Thus RSA index appears to be an effective alternative method to assess and measure spectral HPV.

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Polarization Precession Effects for Shear Elastic Waves in Rotated Solids

  • Sarapuloff, Sergii A.
    • Proceedings of the Korean Society for Noise and Vibration Engineering Conference
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    • 2013.04a
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    • pp.842-848
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    • 2013
  • Developments of Solid-State Gyroscopy during last decades are impressive and were based on thin-walled shell resonators like HRG or CRG made from fused quartz or leuko-sapphire. However, a number of design choices for inertial-grade gyroscopes, which can be used for high-g applications and for mass- or middle-scale production, is still very limited. So, considerations of fundamental physical effects in solids that can be used for development of a miniature, completely solid-state, and lower-cost sensor look urgent. There is a variety of different types of bulk acoustic (elastic) waves (BAW) in anisotropic solids. Shear waves with different variants of their polarization have to be studied especially carefully, because shear sounds in glasses and crystals are sensitive to a turn of the solid as a whole, and, so, they can be used for development of gyroscopic sensors. For an isotropic medium (for a glass or a fine polycrystalline body), classic Lame's theorem (so-called, a general solution of Elasticity Theory or Green-Lame's representation) has been modified for enough general case: an elastic medium rotated about an arbitrary set of axes. Travelling, standing, and mixed shear waves propagating in an infinite isotopic medium (or between a pair of parallel reflecting surfaces) have been considered too. An analogy with classic Foucault's pendulum has been underlined for the effect of a turn of a polarizational plane (i.e., an integration effect for an input angular rate) due to a medium's turn about the axis of the wave propagation. These cases demonstrate a whole-angle regime of gyroscopic operation. Single-crystals are anisotropic media, and, therefore, to reflect influence of the crystal's rotation, classic Christoffel-Green's tensors have been modified. Cases of acoustic axes corresponding to equal velocities for a pair of the pure-transverse (shear) waves have of an evident applied interest. For such a special direction in a crystal, different polarizations of waves are possible, and the gyroscopic effect of "polarizational precession" can be observed like for a glass. Naturally, formation of a wave pattern in a massive elastic body is much more complex due to reflections from its boundaries. Some of these complexities can be eliminated. However, a non-homogeneity has a fundamental nature for any amorphous medium due to its thermodynamically-unstable micro-structure, having fluctuations of the rapidly-frozen liquid. For single-crystalline structures, blockness (walls of dislocations) plays a similar role. Physical nature and kinematic particularities of several typical "drifts" in polarizational BAW gyros (P-BAW) have been considered briefly too. They include irregular precessions ("polarizational beats") due to: non-homogeneity of mass density and elastic moduli, dissymmetry of intrinsic losses, and an angular mismatch between propagation and acoustic axes.

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Formation and Characteristics of the Fluorocarbonated SiOF Film by $O_2$/FTES-Helicon Plasma CVD Method

  • Kyoung-Suk Oh;Min-Sung Kang;Chi-Kyu Choi;Seok-Min Yun
    • Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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    • 1998.02a
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    • pp.77-77
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    • 1998
  • Present silicon dioxide (SiOz) 떠m as intennetal dielectridIMD) layers will result in high parasitic c capacitance and crosstalk interference in 비gh density devices. Low dielectric materials such as f f1uorina뼈 silicon oxide(SiOF) and f1uoropolymer IMD layers have been tried to s이ve this problem. I In the SiOF ftlm, as fluorine concentration increases the dielectric constant of t뼈 film decreases but i it becomes unstable and wa않r absorptivity increases. The dielectric constant above 3.0 is obtain어 i in these ftlms. Fluoropolymers such as polyte$\sigma$따luoroethylene(PTFE) are known as low dielectric c constant (>2.0) materials. However, their $\alpha$)Or thermal stability and low adhesive fa$\pi$e have h hindered 야1리ru뚱 as IMD ma따"ials. 1 The concept of a plasma processing a찌Jaratus with 비gh density plasma at low pressure has r received much attention for deposition because films made in these plasma reactors have many a advantages such as go여 film quality and gap filling profile. High ion flux with low ion energy in m the high density plasma make the low contamination and go어 $\sigma$'Oss피lked ftlm. Especially the h helicon plasma reactor have attractive features for ftlm deposition 야~au똥 of i앙 high density plasma p production compared with other conventional type plasma soun:es. I In this pa야Jr, we present the results on the low dielectric constant fluorocarbonated-SiOF film d밑JOsited on p-Si(loo) 5 inch silicon substrates with 00% of 0dFTES gas mixture and 20% of Ar g gas in a helicon plasma reactor. High density 띠asma is generated in the conventional helicon p plasma soun:e with Nagoya type ill antenna, 5-15 MHz and 1 kW RF power, 700 Gauss of m magnetic field, and 1.5 mTorr of pressure. The electron density and temperature of the 0dFTES d discharge are measUI벼 by Langmuir probe. The relative density of radicals are measured by optic허 e emission spe따'Oscopy(OES). Chemical bonding structure 3I피 atomic concentration 따'C characterized u using fourier transform infrared(FTIR) s야3띠"Oscopy and X -ray photonelectron spl:’따'Oscopy (XPS). D Dielectric constant is measured using a metal insulator semiconductor (MIS;AVO.4 $\mu$ m thick f fIlmlp-SD s$\sigma$ucture. A chemical stoichiome$\sigma$y of 야Ie fluorocarbina$textsc{k}$영-SiOF film 따~si야영 at room temperature, which t the flow rate of Oz and FTES gas is Isccm and 6sccm, res야~tvely, is form려 야Ie SiouFo.36Co.14. A d dielec$\sigma$ic constant of this fIlm is 2.8, but the s$\alpha$'!Cimen at annealed 5OOt: is obtain려 3.24, and the s stepcoverage in the 0.4 $\mu$ m and 0.5 $\mu$ m pattern 킹'C above 92% and 91% without void, res야~tively. res야~tively.

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The Development of Water Quality Monitoring System and its Application Using Satellite Image Data

  • Jang, Dong-Ho;Jo, Gi-Ho
    • Proceedings of the KSRS Conference
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    • 1998.09a
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    • pp.376-381
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    • 1998
  • In this study, we was measured the radiance reflectance by using multi-spectral image of low resolution camera(LRC) which will be loaded in the multi-purpose satellite(KOMPSAT) to use the data in analyzing water pollution. Also we investigated the possibility of extraction of water quality factors in rivers and water body by using high resolution remote sensing data such as Airborne MSS. Especially, we tried to extract the environmental factors related with eutrophication, and also tried to develop the process technique and the radiance feature of reflectance related with eutrophication. The results were summarized as follows: First, the spectrum of sun's rays which reaches the surface of the earth was consistent with visible rays bands of 0.4${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$~0.7${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$ and about 50% of total quantity of radiation were there. And at around 0.5${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$ of green spectral band in visible rays bands, the spectrum was highest. Second, as a result of the radiance reflectance Chlorophyll-a represented high spectral reflectance mainly around 0.52${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$ of green spectral band, and suspended sediments and turbidity represented high spectral reflectance at 0.8${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$ and at 0.57${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$ each. Third, as a result of the water quality analysis by using Airborne MSS, Chlorophyll-a could have a distribution chart when carried out ratio of B3 and BS to B7. And Band 7 was useful for making the distribution chart of suspended sediments. And when we carried out PCA, suspended sediments and turbidity had distributions at PC 1 , PC 4 each similarly to ground truth data. Above results can be changed according to the change of season and time. Therefore, in order to analyze more exactly the environmental factors of water quality by using LRC data, we need to investigate constantly the ground truth data and the radiance feature of reflectance of water body. Afterward in this study, we will constantly analyze the radiance feature of the surface of water in water body by measuring the on-the-spot radiance reflectance and using low resolution satellite image(SeaWiFs). Besides, we will gather the data of water quality analysis in water body and analyze the pattern of water pollution.

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The Role and Regulation of MCL-1 Proteins in Apoptosis Pathway

  • Bae, Jeehyeon
    • Proceedings of the Korean Society of Applied Pharmacology
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    • 2002.07a
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    • pp.113-113
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    • 2002
  • Phylogenetically conserved Bcl-2 family proteins play a pivotal role in the regulation of apoptosis from virus to human. Members of the Bcl-2 family consist of antiapoptotic proteins such as Bcl-2, Bcl-xL, and Bcl-w, and proapoptotic proteins such as BAD, Bax, BOD, and Bok. It has been proposed that anti- and proapoptotic Bcl-2 proteins regulate cell death by binding to each other and forming heterodimers. A delicate balance between anti- and proapoptotic Bcl-2 family members exists in each cell and the relative concentration of these two groups of proteins determines whether the cell survives or undergoes apoptosis. Mcl-1 (Myeloid cell :leukemia-1) is a member of the Bcl-2 family proteins and was originally cloned as a differentiation-induced early gene that was activated in the human myeloblastic leukemia cell line, ML-1 . Mcl-1 is expressed in a wide variety of tissues and cells including neoplastic ones. We recently identified a short splicing variant of Mcl-1 short (Mcl-IS) and designated the known Mcl-1 as Mcl-1 long (Mcl-lL). Mcl-lL protein exhibits antiapoptotic activity and possesses the BH (Bcl-2 homology) 1, BH2, BH3, and transmembrane (TM) domains found in related Bcl-2 proteins. In contrast, Mcl-1 S is a BH3 domain-only proapoptotic protein that heterodimerizes with Mcl-lL. Although both Mc1-lL and Mcl-lS proteins contain BH domains fecund in other Bcl-2 family proteins, they are distinguished by their unusually long N-terminal sequences containing PEST (proline, glutamic acid, serine, and threonine) motifs, four pairs of arginine residues, and alanine- and glycine-rich regions. In addition, the expression pattern of Mcl-1 protein is different from that of Bcl-2 suggesting a unique role (or Mcl-1 in apoptosis regulation. Tankyrasel (TRF1-interacting, ankyrin-related ADP-related polymerasel) was originally isolated based on its binding to TRF 1 (telomeric repeat binding factor-1) and contains the sterile alpha motif (SAM) module, 24 ankyrin (ANK) repeats, and the catalytic domain of poly(adenosine diphosphate-ribose) polymerase (PARP). Previous studies showed that tankyrasel promotes telomere elongation in human cells presumably by inhibiting TRFI though its poly(ADP-ribosyl)action by tankyrasel . In addition, tankyrasel poly(ADP-ribosyl)ates Insulin-responsive amino peptidase (IRAP), a resident protein of GLUT4 vesicles, and insulin stimulates the PARP activity of tankyrase1 through its phosphorylation by mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK). ADP-ribosylation is a posttranslational modification that usually results in a loss of protein activity presumably by enhancing protein turnover. However, little information is available regarding the physiological function(s) of tankyrase1 other than as a PARP enzyme. In the present study, we found tankyrasel as a specific-binding protein of Mcl-1 Overexpression of tankyrasel led to the inhibition of both the apoptotic activity of Mel-lS and the survival action of Mcl-lL in mammalian cells. Unlike other known tankyrasel-interacting proteins, tankyrasel did not poly(ADP-ribosyl)ate either of the Mcl-1 proteins despite its ability to decrease Mcl-1 proteins expression following coexpression. Therefore, this study provides a novel mechanism to regulate Mcl-1-modulated apoptosis in which tankyrasel downregulates the expression of Mcl-1 proteins without the involvement of its ADP-ribosylation activity.

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