• Molecules and Cells
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• 제41권5호
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• pp.373-380
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• 2018

Synapses and neural circuits form with exquisite specificity during brain development to allow the precise and appropriate flow of neural information. Although this property of synapses and neural circuits has been extensively investigated for more than a century, molecular mechanisms underlying this property are only recently being unveiled. Recent studies highlight several classes of cell-surface proteins as organizing hubs in building structural and functional architectures of specific synapses and neural circuits. In the present minireview, we discuss recent findings on various synapse organizers that confer the distinct properties of specific synapse types and neural circuit architectures in mammalian brains, with a particular focus on the hippocampus and cerebellum.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• 제13권2호
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• pp.55-62
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• 2013

Swiprosin-1 exhibits the highest expression in $CD8^+$ T cells and immature B cells and has been proposed to play a role in lymphocyte biology through actin remodeling. However, regulation of swiprosin-1 gene expression is poorly understood. Here we report that swiprosin-1 is up-regulated in T cells by PKC pathway. Targeted inhibition of the specific protein kinase C (PKC) isotypes by siRNA revealed that $PKC-{\theta}$ is involved in the expression of swiprosin-1 in the human T cells. In contrast, down-regulation of swiprosin-1 by A23187 or ionomycin suggests that calcium-signaling plays a negative role. Interestingly, swiprosin-1 expression is only reduced by treatment with $NF-{\kappa}B$ inhibitors but not by NF-AT inhibitor, suggesting that the $NF-{\kappa}B$ pathway is critical for regulation of swiprosin-1 expression. Collectively, these results suggest that swiprosin-1 is a $PKC-{\theta}$-inducible gene and that it may modulate the late phase of T cell activation after antigen challenge.

• 센서학회지
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• 제18권2호
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• pp.128-134
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• 2009

Integrated circuit of a new neuron chain with a synapse function for Hodgkin-Huxley model which is a good electrical model about a real biological neuron is implemented in a $0.5{\mu}m$ 1 poly 2 metal CMOS technology. Pulse type neuron chain consist of series connected current controlled single neurons through synapses. For the realization of the single neuron, a pair of voltage mode oscillators using operational transconductance amplifiers and capacitors is used. The synapse block which is a connection element between neurons consist of a voltage-current conversion circuit using current mirror. SPICE simulation results of the proposed circuit show 160 mV amplitude pulse output and propagation of the signal through synapses. Measurements of the fabricated pulse type neuron chip in condition of ${\pm}2.5\;V$ power supply are shown and compared with the simulated results.

• 한국전기전자재료학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국전기전자재료학회 1991년도 추계학술대회 논문집
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• pp.1-4
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• 1991

EEPROM technology has been used for storing analog weights as charge in a nitride layer between gate and channel of a field effect transistor. In the view of integrity and fabrication process, it is essentially required that SONOSFET is capable of performing synapse function as a basic element in an artificial neural networks. This work has introduced the VLSI implementation for synapses including current study and also investigated physical characteristics to implement synapse circuit using SONOSFET memories. Simulation results are shown in this work. It is proposed that multiplication of synapse element using SONOSFET memories will be developed more compact implementation under Present fabrication processes.

• Applied Microscopy
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• 제24권4호
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• pp.32-40
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• 1994

This study was undertaken to study the morphological changes of rat synapses during early postnatal periods. Neonatal rats were grouped by 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 6th postnatal weeks, and we observed the ultrastructural pattern of the synapses in the external plexiform layer of olfactory bulbs by electron microscopy. The results were as follows; 1. The numbers of synapses, lengths of synaptic thickenings and amounts of synaptic vesicles were markedly increased in the external plexiform layer during four postnatal weeks. 2. There was a tendency of increasing the proportion of the asymmetric synapse and the curved synapses during maturation. From the above results, it is suggested that the size of synapse is increasing during maturation, and at the same time the asymmetric synapses are formed from the symmetric type and the curved synapses are from the plane type.

• Applied Microscopy
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• 제44권3호
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• pp.83-87
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• 2014

Electron tomography (ET) is a useful tool to investigate three-dimensional details based on virtual slices of relative thick specimen, and it requires complicated procedures consisted of image acquisition steps and image processing steps with computer program. Although the complicated step, this technique allows us to overcome some limitations of conventional transmission electron microscopy: (1) overlapping of information in the ultrathin section covering from 30 nm to 90 nm when we observe very small structures, (2) fragmentation of the information when we study larger structures over 100 nm. There are remarkable biological findings with ET, especially in the field of neuroscience, although it is not popular yet. Understanding of behavior of synaptic vesicle, active zone, pooling and fusion in the presynaptic terminal have been enhanced thanks to ET. Some sophisticated models of postsynaptic density with ET and immune labeling are introduced recently. In this review, we introduce principles, practical steps of ET and some recent researches in synapse biology.

• 한국전기전자재료학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국전기전자재료학회 1996년도 추계학술대회 논문집
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• pp.1-4
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• 1996

EEPROM technology has been used for storing analog weights as charge in a nitride layer between gate and channel of a field effect transistor. In the view of integrity and fabrication process, it is essentially required that SONOSFET is capable of performing synapse function as a basic element in an artificial neural networks. This work has introduced the VLSI implementation for synapses including current study and also investigated physical characteristics to implement synapse circuit using SONOSFET memories. Simulation results are shown in this work. It is proposed that multiplication of synapse element using SONOSFET memories will be developed more compact implementation under Present fabrication processes.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology
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• 제28권1호
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• pp.1-17
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• 1994

• Applied Microscopy
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• 제25권1호
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• pp.1-14
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• 1995

The purpose of this study was to investigate the main sensory trigeminal nucleus in the aging rat brain by means of electron microscope. Male Sprague-Dawley rats, two (control group) and thirty six (aging group) months of age, were used. These animals were sacrificed by perfusion fixation with 2.5% glutaraldehyde-2.0% paraformaldehyde (0.1M phosphate buffer, pH 7.4) under sodium pentobarbital. The objective area was punched out with a sharp-edged metal cylinder of 0.8 mm in diameter. These blocks of tissue were then washed in 0.1M phosphate buffer, postfixed in 2% osmium tetroxide, dehydrated in a graded series of ethyl alcohol, and embedded in Epon 812. Thin sections were cut with Super Nova ultramicrotome, pick up on grids and double stained with lead citrate and uranyl acetate, and observed in JEOL 100B electron microscope. The results were as follows: 1. In the control group, the neuronal cell body of the main sensory trigeminal nucleus was filled with nucleus, Golgi complex, Nissl substance, mitochondria, microfilaments and microtubules. However, few Nissl substances are seen in neuronal cell body. Axoaxonic synapse, axodendritic synapse, axosomatic synapse, axospinous synapse, myelinated and unmyelinated nerve fibers were well organized around cell bodies. Neurons with abnormal changes were not seen. 2. In the aging group, the neuronal cell body of the main sensory trigeminal nucleus contained large number of lipofuscin granules, dense body and swollen mitochondria. Terminal boutons contained glycogen, crystal-like vesicle and membranous indicating first signs of degeneration. The dendrites were found to be in synaptic contact with altered axon terminals. Frequently axons filled with dark axoplasn and splitted myelin sheath were noticed.

• 세라미스트
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• 제21권2호
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• pp.4-18
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• 2018

Lastly, neuromorphic computing chip has been extensively studied as the technology that directly mimics efficient calculation algorithm of human brain, enabling a next-generation intelligent hardware system with high speed and low power consumption. Three-terminal based synaptic transistor has relatively low integration density compared to the two-terminal type memristor, while its power consumption can be realized as being so low and its spike plasticity from synapse can be reliably implemented. Also, the strong electrical interaction between two or more synaptic spikes offers the advantage of more precise control of synaptic weights. In this review paper, the results of synaptic transistor mimicking synaptic behavior of the brain are classified according to the channel material, in order of silicon, organic semiconductor, oxide semiconductor, 1D CNT(carbon nanotube) and 2D van der Waals atomic layer present. At the same time, key technologies related to dielectrics and electrolytes introduced to express hysteresis and plasticity are discussed. In addition, we compared the essential electrical characteristics (EPSC, IPSC, PPF, STM, LTM, and STDP) required to implement synaptic transistors in common and the power consumption required for unit synapse operation. Generally, synaptic devices should be integrated with other peripheral circuits such as neurons. Demonstration of this neuromorphic system level needs the linearity of synapse resistance change, the symmetry between potentiation and depression, and multi-level resistance states. Finally, in order to be used as a practical neuromorphic applications, the long-term stability and reliability of the synapse device have to be essentially secured through the retention and the endurance cycling test related to the long-term memory characteristics.