• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.602-607
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• 2017

Background: Panax ginseng is a traditional herb used for medicinal purposes in eastern Asia. P. ginseng contains various ginsenosides with pharmacological effects. In this study, floralginsenoside A (FGA), ginsenoside Rd (GRD), and ginsenoside Re (GRE) were purified from P. ginseng berry. Methods: Chemical structures of FGA, GRD, and GRE were determined based on spectroscopic methods, including fast atom bombardment mass spectroscopy, ID-nuclear magnetic resonance, and infrared spectroscopy. Inhibitory activities of these compounds on melanogenesis were studied by measuring the expression of protein and melanin content in the melan-a cell line. This inhibitory activity was confirmed by observing pigmentation and tyrosinase activities of zebrafish. Results: GRD, GRE, and FGA were not cytotoxic at concentrations less than $20{\mu}M$, $80{\mu}M$, and $160{\mu}M$ in melan-a cells, respectively. GRD, GRE, and FGA inhibited melanin biosynthesis in melan-a cells by 15.2%, 22.9%, and 23.9% at $20{\mu}M$, $80{\mu}M$, and $160{\mu}M$, respectively. FGA was observed to display the most potent inhibitory effect. In addition, FGA decreased microphthalmia-associated transcription factor protein expression in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, FGA induced extracellular signal-regulated kinase phosphorylation level in melan-a cells. In addition, melanin pigment content and tyrosinase activity in zebrafish treated with FGA at $160{\mu}M$ were reduced. Conclusion: FGA showed the most potent inhibition of melanogenesis in both in vitro and in vivo studies. This study suggests that FGA purified from P. ginseng may be an effective melanogenesis inhibitor.

• Journal of the Microelectronics and Packaging Society
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.69-74
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• 2019

The influence of measuring fixtures on the measurement of dielectric and piezoelectric properties of PMN-PT single crystal specimens was investigated. As the pressure of the jig pin which applied the AC electrical signal to the sample decreased, the lower resonance resistance was measured and the higher mechanical quality factor was calculated. The mechanical quality factor was 418 when the spring tension of the jig pin was 20grf, and the value of the quality factor was reduced by half when the spring tension was 200grf. The 4-probe fixture method is unsuitable for measuring piezoelectric properties, but it was suitable for the measurement of dielectric loss. In order to accurately evaluate the piezoelectric properties of PMN-PT, it is necessary to lower the spring tension of the jig pin as much as possible.

• Proceedings of the KIEE Conference
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• 2006.07c
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• pp.1621-1622
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• 2006

This paper presents the effect of driving waveform for piezoelectric bend mode inkjet printhead with optimized mechanical design. Experimental and theoretical studies on the applied driving waveform versus jetting characteristic s were performed. The inkjet head has been designed to maximize the droplet velocity, minimize voltage response of the actuator and optimize the firing frequency to eject ink droplet. The head design was carried out by using mechanical simulation. The printhead has been fabricated with Si(100) and SOI wafers by MEMS process and silicon direct bonding method. To investigate how performance of the piezoelectric ceramic actuator influences on droplet diameter and droplet velocity, the method of stroboscopy was used. Also we observed the movement characteristics of PZT actuator with LDV(Laser Doppler Vibrometer) system, oscilloscope and dynamic signal analyzer. Missing nozzles caused by bubbles in chamber were monitored by their resonance frequency. Using the water based ink of viscosity of 4.8 cps and surface tension of 0.025N/m, it is possible to eject stable droplets up to 20kHz, 4.4m/s and above 8pL at the different applied driving waveforms.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.30-37
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• 2006

Injecting currents into an electrically conducting subject, we may measure the induced magnetic flux density distributions using an MRI scanner. The measured data are utilized to reconstruct cross-sectional images of internal conductivity and current density distributions in Magnetic Resonance Electrical Impedance Tomography (MREIT). Injection currents are usually provided in a form of mono-polar or bi-polar pulses synchronized with an MR pulse sequence. Given an MRI scanner performing the MR phase imaging to extract the induced magnetic flux density data, the current source becomes one of the key parts determining the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of the measured data. Since this SNR is crucial in determining the quality of reconstructed MREIT images, special care must be given in the design and implementation of the current source. This paper describes a current source design for MREIT with features including interleaved current injection, arbitrary current waveform, electrode switching to discharge any stored charge from previous current injections, optical isolation from an MR spectrometer and PC, precise current injection timing control synchronized with any MR pulse sequence, and versatile PC control program. The performance of the current source was verified using a 3T MRI scanner and saline phantoms.

• Journal of Advanced Navigation Technology
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.332-345
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• 2013

In this paper, recently, it is described to the piezoelectric transformer technology develops, because it was have to favorable characteristics such as electromagnetic-noise free, compact size, higher efficiency, and superior power density, flux linkage, noiseless, etc. its resonance frequency was used to output waveform of a sine wave. A rotor speed identification method of induction motor based on the theory of flux model reference adaptive system(FMRAS). The estimator execute the rotor speed identification so that the vector control of the induction motor may be achieved. The improved auxiliary variable of the model are introduced to perform accurate rotor speed estimation. The control system is composed of the PI controller for speed control and the current controller using space voltage vector PWM techniuqe and DC-DC converter. High speed calculation and processing for vector control is carried out by digital signal one chip microprocessor. Validity of the proposed control method is verified through simulation and experimental results.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.198-203
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• 2006

Objective : To evaluate the natural histories and growth rates of meningiomas, the authors perform this retrospective observational study and attempt to identify those factors predicting tumor growth. Methods : Between 1993 and 2004, a total of 83 patients were diagnosed by computed tomography[CT] scans or magnetic resonance[MR] imaging as having an intracranial meningioma, and were treated by observation only using regular clinical and radiological examinations. Twenty-six of these 83 patients, with available data were included in this study. Follow up periods ranged from 9 to 137 months [mean, 55.6 mo.; median, 60 mo.]. The tumor volumes, absolute growth rates, and tumor doubling times were calculated. Results : Patient age and sex distributions were comparable to those of other studies, but exceptionally 16 meningiomas [62%] were located at the skull base in the present study. During follow-up monitoring, the majority of meningiomas grew, though 77% showed low absolute annual growth rates [$<1cm^3/yr$]. The tumor doubling times ranged from 2.87 to 201.72 years [mean, 42.91 yr]. Based on Imaging analysis, peritumoral edema and the absence of calcification were probable factors predicting tumor growth. Tumor-related symptoms seemed to be slightly related to tumor growth. Other factors, e.g., gender, age, tumor location, and T2-weighted signal Intensities on MR imaging, were not significantly related to tumor growth. Conclusion : This study shows that the majority of meningiomas are slow growing. However, variations in tumor growth are unexplained, thus individualized optimal treatment strategies should be provided in each meningioma.

• Journal of the Korean Arthroscopy Society
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.276-279
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• 2009

Fibroma of tendon sheath is an uncommon benign soft tissue tumor with a predilection for the hand or upper extremities with extremely rare intra-articular involvement. It is mostly comprised of slow-growing fibrous lobules made up of scattered fibroblasts in a dense stroma with slit-like vascular channels. An unique case in a 54-year-old male patient involving the glenohumeral joint arising from postersuperior joint capsule is reported. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) reveals a focal nodular mass with decreased signal intensity on all pulse sequences and pathology confirmation was made with arthroscopic excision. Intra-articular fibroma of tendon sheath should be considered in the differential diagnosis of intra-articular soft tissue masses during shoulder arthroscopy.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.64 no.1
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• pp.69-77
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• 2021

Objective : Classification systems for cervical ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) have traditionally focused on the morphological characteristics of ossification. Although the classification describes many clinical features associated with the shape of the ossification, including the concept of spondylosis seems necessary because of the similarity in age distribution. Methods : Patients diagnosed with OPLL who presented with increase signal intensity (ISI) on magnetic resonance imaging were surgically treated in our department. The patients were divided into two groups (pure versus degenerative) according to the presence of disc degeneration. Results : Of 141 patients enrolled in this study, more than half (61%) were classified into the degenerative group. The pure group showed a profound male predominance, early presentation of myelopathy, and a different predilection for ISI compared to the degenerative group. The mean canal compromise ratio (CC) of the ISI was 47% in the degenerative group versus 61% in the pure group (p<0.0000). On the contrary, the global and segment motions were significantly larger in the degenerative group (p<0.0000 and p=0.003, respectively). The canal diameters and global angles did not differ between groups. Conclusion : Classifying cervical OPLL based on the presence of combined disc degeneration is beneficial for understanding the disorder's behavior. CC appears to be the main factor in the development of myelopathy in the pure group, whereas additional dynamic factors appear to affect its development in the degenerative group.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.45-48
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• 2021

A 6-year-old, 26 kg spayed female Great Dane presented with back pain and hindlimb paresis. On neurological examination, severe pain was detected on the lumbosacral joint displaying nerve-root signature. The animal presented with lower motor neuron paresis with normal deep pain perception. Radiographic examination revealed narrowing of the lumbosacral joint disc space with endplate destructive lysis. Magnetic resonance imaging of the lumbosacral joint revealed a cauda equina compression, especially on the left. On T2 and T1-weighted images, a mass sized 1 × 1 cm was identified laterally to the left of the lumbosacral joint with hyperintense signal. The lumbosacral joint was stabilized by applying the dorsal distraction fixation-fusion technique and dorsal laminectomy. The soft tissue mass was removed, and a bacterial culture was performed. Coagulase-negative Staphylococcus spp. were detected and discospondylitis was treated with clindamycin for 6 weeks. The patient showed clinical improvement without pain and hindlimb paresis until 6 months follow-up postoperatively.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.506-518
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• 2021

The imprinted tumour suppressor NOEY2 is downregulated in various cancer types, including ovarian cancers. Recent data suggest that NOEY2 plays an essential role in regulating the cell cycle, angiogenesis and autophagy in tumorigenesis. However, its detailed molecular function and mechanisms in ovarian tumours remain unclear. In this report, we initially demonstrated the inhibitory effect of NOEY2 on tumour growth by utilising a xenograft tumour model. NOEY2 attenuated the cell growth approximately fourfold and significantly reduced tumour vascularity. NOEY2 inhibited the phosphorylation of the signalling components downstream of phosphatidylinositol-3'-kinase (PI3K), including phosphoinositide-dependent protein kinase 1 (PDK-1), tuberous sclerosis complex 2 (TSC-2) and p70 ribosomal protein S6 kinase (p70S6K), during ovarian tumour progression via direct binding to vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 (VEGFR-2). Particularly, the N-terminal domain of NOEY2 (NOEY2-N) had a potent anti-angiogenic activity and dramatically downregulated VEGF and hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α), key regulators of angiogenesis. Since no X-ray or nuclear magnetic resonance structures is available for NOEY2, we constructed the three-dimensional structure of this protein via molecular modelling methods, such as homology modelling and molecular dynamic simulations. Thereby, Lys15 and Arg16 appeared as key residues in the N-terminal domain. We also found that NOEY2-N acts as a potent inhibitor of tumorigenesis and angiogenesis. These findings provide convincing evidence that NOEY2-N regulates endothelial cell function and angiogenesis by interrupting the VEGFR-2/PDK-1/GSK-3β signal transduction and thus strongly suggest that NOEY2-N might serve as a novel anti-tumour and anti-angiogenic agent against many diseases, including ovarian cancer.