• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Near Infrared Spectroscopy Conference
• /
• 2001.06a
• /
• pp.1519-1519
• /
• 2001

The aim of this work was to test the feasibility of NIRS in analysing textural characteristics of “Pasta Filata” cheese during the shelf-life. For this purpose, 128 samples of “Pasta Filata” cheese, subdivided into two sets on the basis of the wax used to avoid mechanical damages (paraffin, biodegradable wax), were analysed by using an InfraAlyzer 500 (Bran+Luebbe). Analyses were performed at room temperature. Samples were cut into small cylinders (D=3.2 cm, height = 1 cm), in agreement with literature information. Data were processed by using Sesame Software (Bran+Luebbe). Samples were analysed, during the shelf-life, at 90 and 120 days. In parallel, textural characteristics were detected carrying out a compression method by using an Universal Testing Machine Instron model 4301 (Instron Corporation, Canton, Massachusetts). As compression probe was used a cylinder (D = 5.8 cm, height = 3.7 cm) and a speed rate of 20mm/min was applied. The load at 20 mm of compression was recorded on sample cylinders of 1.7 cm (D) by 2 cm (height). Qualitative analysis of full spectra showed the possibility to gather samples on the basis of the days of shelf-life. The textural characteristics of cheese during the shelf-life was evaluated by comparing NIRS data with rheological results. The best correlation was obtained applying MLR to the first derivative of normalized absorbance values at seven wavelengths. Load values were plotted against the NIR prediction values based on first derivatives. NIRS proved to be an useful tool in classifying samples on the basis of the shelf-life period as well as in predicting their textural characteristics ($R^2$= 0.916, SEC = 0.192, SEP = 0.248, SEV = 0.345).

• The KIPS Transactions:PartB
• /
• v.15B no.5
• /
• pp.477-486
• /
• 2008

Facial expression, which changes face geometry, usually has an adverse effect on the performance of a face recognition system. To improve the face recognition rate, we propose a normalization method of facial expression to diminish the difference of facial expression between probe and gallery faces. Two approaches are used to facial expression modeling and normalization from single still images using a generic facial muscle model without the need of large image databases. The first approach estimates the geometry parameters of linear muscle models to obtain a biologically inspired model of the facial expression which may be changed intuitively afterwards. The second approach uses RBF(Radial Basis Function) based interpolation and warping to normalize the facial muscle model as unexpressed face according to the given expression. As a preprocessing stage for face recognition, these approach could achieve significantly higher recognition rates than in the un-normalized case based on the eigenface approach, local binary patterns and a grey-scale correlation measure.

• ALGAE
• /
• v.33 no.1
• /
• pp.21-35
• /
• 2018

The phototrophic dinoflagellate genus Scrippsiella is known to have a worldwide distribution. Here, we report for the first time, the occurrence of Scrippsiella lachrymosa in Korean waters. Unlike the other stains of S. lachrymosa whose cultures had been established from cysts in the sediments, the clonal culture of the Korean strain of S. lachrymosa was established from motile cells. When the sulcal plates of S. lachrymosa, which have not been fully described to date, were carefully examined using scanning electron microscopy, the Korean strain of S. lachrymosa clearly exhibited the anterior sulcal plate (s.a.), right sulcal plate (s.d.), left sulcal plate (s.s.), median sulcal plate (s.m.), and posterior sulcal plate (s.p.). When properly aligned, the large subunit (LSU) rDNA sequence of the Korean strain of S. lachrymosa was ca. 1% different from those of two Norwegian strains of S. lachrymosa, the only strains for which LSU sequences have been reported. The internal transcribed spacer (ITS) rDNA sequence of the Korean strain of S. lachrymosa was also ca. 1% different from those of the Scottish and Chinese strains and 3% different from those of the Canadian, German, Greek, and Portuguese strains. Thus, the Korean S. lachrymosa strain has unique LSU and ITS sequences. The abundances of S. lachrymosa in the waters of 28 stations, located in the East, West, and South Sea of Korea, were quantified in four seasons from January 2016 to October 2017, using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction method and newly designed specific primer-probe sets. Its abundances were >$0.1cells\;mL^{-1}$ at eight stations in January and March 2016 and March 2017, and its highest abundance in Korean waters was $26cells\;mL^{-1}$. Thus, S. lachrymosa has a nationwide distribution in Korean waters as motile cells.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
• /
• v.47 no.4
• /
• pp.645-650
• /
• 2019

Despite differences in virulence between strains of Toxoplasma gondii, rapid and accurate genotyping methods are lacking. In this study, a method was developed to detect and genotype T. gondii in food and environmental samples using PCR and a novel peptide nucleic acid (PNA) melting array. An alignment of genome sequences for T. gondii type I, II, and III obtained from NCBI was generated, and a single nucleotide polymorphism analysis was performed to identify targets for PCR amplification and a PNA melting array. Prior to the PNA melting array, conventional PCR was used to amplify GRA6 of T. gondii. After amplification, the PNA melting array was performed using two different PNA hybridization probes with fluorescent labels (FAM and HEX) and quenchers. Melting curves for each probe were used to determine genotypes and identify mutations. A 214-bp region of the GRA6 gene of T. gondii was successfully amplified by PCR. For all T. gondii strains (type I, II, and III) used to evaluate specificity, the correct genotypes were determined by the PNA melting array. Non-T. gondii strains, including 14 foodborne pathogens and 3 protozoan parasites, such as Giardia lamblia, Cryptosporidium parvum, and Entamoeba histolytica, showed no signal, suggesting that the assay has a high specificity. Although this is only a proof-of-concept study, the assay is promising for the fast and reliable genotyping of T. gondii from food and environmental samples.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
• /
• v.49 no.1
• /
• pp.1-7
• /
• 2011

Objective: Glutamate is a key excitatory neurotransmitter in the brain, and its excessive release plays a key role in the development of neuronal injury. In order to define the effect of nimodipine on glutamate release, we monitored extracellular glutamate release in real-time in a global ischemia rat model with eleven vessel occlusion. Methods: Twelve rats were randomly divided into two groups: the ischemia group and the nimodipine treatment group. The changes of extracellular glutamate level were measured using microdialysis amperometric biosensor, in coincident with cerebral blood flow (CBF) and electroencephalogram. Nimodipine (0.025 ${\mu}g$/100 gm/min) was infused into lateral to the CBF probe, during the ischemic period. Also, we performed Nissl staining method to assess the neuroprotective effect of nimodipine. Results: During the ischemic period, the mean maximum change in glutamate concentration was $133.22{\pm}2.57\;{\mu}M$ in the ischemia group and $75.42{\pm}4.22\;{\mu}M$ (p<0.001) in the group treated with nimodipine. The total amount of glutamate released was significantly different (P<0.001) between groups during the ischemic period. The %cell viability in hippocampus was $47.50{\pm}5.64$ (p<0.005) in ischemia group, compared with sham group. But, the %cell viability in nimodipine treatment group was $95.46{\pm}6.60$ in hippocampus (p<0.005). Conclusion: From the real-time monitoring and Nissl staining results, we suggest that the nimodipine treatment is responsible for the protection of the neuronal cell death through the suppression of extracellular glutamate release in the 11-VO global ischemia model of rat.

• Advances in materials Research
• /
• v.1 no.4
• /
• pp.299-310
• /
• 2012

This article describes the synthesis of a novel N-substituted pyrrole monomer containing an azobenzene group. The 2-[N-ethyl-N-[4-[(4-nitrophenyl) azo]-phenyl] amino] ethyl-3-chloropropionate (RedII) compound was synthesized via reaction of 4-nitro-4'-[N-ethyl-N-(2-hydroxyethyl)-amino] azobenzene (RedI) and 3-chloropropionic acid. RedII was reacted with the potassium salt of pyrrole then 2-[N-ethyl-N-[4-[(nitro phenyl) azo] phenyl] amino] ethyl-N-pyrrolyl propionate (Py-RedII) was prepared. Chemical polymerization of Py-RedII and copolymerization of Py-RedII with pyrrole carried out using $FeCl_3$. Poly (2-[N-ethyl-N-[4-[(nitro phenyl) azo] phenyl] amino] ethyl-N-pyrrolyl propionate) (PPy-RedII) was characterized by UV, IR, $^1HNMR$, $^{13}CNMR$ spectroscopies. Electropolymerization of Py-RedII and electroco-polymerization of Py-RedII and pyrrole were studied using conventional three electrodes system, Ag/AgCl reference electrode, platinum counter electrode and GC disk working electrode. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), thermogravimetry analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) were used for thermal and rheological studies. The TGA curve of PPy-RedII demonstrated a high thermal stability up to 200°C and its DSC thermogram showed two endothermic peaks at 88 and $122^{\circ}C$. The glass transition temperature of the polymer was found to be above the room temperature. Electrical conductivities of PPy-RedII and it's copolymer with pyrrole (PPy-RedII-co-Py) were studied by the four-probe method and produced conductivities of $7.5{\times}10^{-4}$ and $6.5{\times}10^{-3}Scm^{-1}$, respectively.

• Composites Research
• /
• v.23 no.3
• /
• pp.58-63
• /
• 2010

Tensile and flexural properties and electrical conductivity of MWCNT/epoxy composites with different aspect ratios of MWCNTs were compared. The MWCNT/epoxy mixtures were prepared by mechanical dispersion methods using a homomixer and a three-roll mill, and then composite samples were fabricated by compression molding process. The fractured surfaces of the samples were observed by SEM in order to evaluate the degree of dispersion of MWCNTs. The addition of MWCNTs into epoxy resin improved its tensile strength by 7.0% while its flexural strength increased slightly as compared with the one without MWCNTs. In the case of MWCNTs having highest aspect ratio, the mechanical properties of the composites were decreased. When the contents of CM-95 MWCNTs were varied, maximum of tensile and flexural strengths occurred at 1wt% and 0.5wt%, respectively. From the higher contents than these, tensile and flexural strengths of the composites decreased. Electrical conductivities of in-plane and thought-the-thickness directions of MWCNT/epoxy composites were measured using a two-point probe method. They increased with the increase of the aspect ratios and concentrations of MWCNTs in the epoxy matrix.

• Proceedings of the KIEE Conference
• /
• 2002.07c
• /
• pp.1668-1670
• /
• 2002

Since more than two decades, the conventional PD detecting systems have been employed in order to detect the partial discharges occurring inside the HV power apparatus for their diagnosis by use of different type of detection such as acoustic and UHF detection method. Regardless of their wide on-site application, a certain number of technical inconveniences have been disclosed as follows : multistage amplification. large volume, susceptible to external noise and high price. In this respect, the optical measurement techniques are widely proposed in these days in this concerned field ascribed to the following advantages : immune to external EMI noise and broad band response of the Pockels cell covering from DC to GHz. However, the reliability of several proposed techniques enabling to measure the electric field inside the large high power apparatus has not yet been well approved In this work, an optical measuring system, based on the Pockels effect, has been developed for measuring the field variation due to the corona discharges occurring in air and in oil. This system consists of He-Ne laser, single mode optical fiber, multi mode optical fiber, polarizing film, Y-cut LiNbO3 cell, photo detector, digital oscilloscope and personal computer with GPIB. For this purpose, optical probe has been specially designed and realized and put into the needle-plane electrode. Afterward, same measurement is carried out in oil. We demonstrate the characteristic of the optical measuring system and the measurement results.

• Journal of Genetic Medicine
• /
• v.13 no.1
• /
• pp.36-40
• /
• 2016

Tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC, MIM#191100) is an autosomal dominant neurocutaneous syndrome caused by mutation or deletion of TSC1 encoding hamartin or TSC2 encoding tuberin and characterized by seizure, mental retardation, and multiple hamartomas or benign tumors in the skin, brain, retina, heart, kidney, and lungs. The TSC2 gene on chromosome 16p13.3 lies adjacent to the PKD1 gene which is responsible for autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (MIM#173900). The TSC2/PKD1 contiguous gene syndrome (TSC2/PKD1 CGDS, MIM#600273) is caused by deletion of both TSC2 and PKD1 gene. We recently experienced a 15 month-old boy and a 26 month-old girl with TSC2/PKD1 CGDS confirmed by multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA) analysis. They showed not only typical neurologic manifestations of TSC such as epilepsy, subependymal nodules, and subcortical tubers, but also polycystic kidney disease. The contiguous gene syndrome involving PKD1 and TSC2 should be suspected in children with enlarged polycystic kidneys and TSC. MLPA analysis is a useful method for the genetic confirmation of TSC2/PKD1 CGDS.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
• /
• 2011.08a
• /
• pp.333-333
• /
• 2011

We have investigated the breakdown properties in liquids by high voltage pulse system. High voltage pulse power system is consisted of the Marx-generator with two capacitors (0.5 ${\mu}F$, withstanding voltage is 40 kV), to which the charging voltage can be applied to maximum 30 kV DC, spark gap switch and charging resistor of 20 $M{\Omega}$. We have made use of tungsten pin electrodes of anode-cathode (A-K), which are immersed into the liquids. The breakdown voltage and current signals are measured by high voltage probe (Tektronix P6015A) and current monitor (IPC CM-1.S). Especially the high speed breakdown or plasma propagation characteristics in the pulsed A-K gap have been investigated by using the high speed ICCD camera. We have measured the electron temperature through the Boltzmann plot method from the breakdown spectrums. Here the A-K gap has been changed by 1 mm, 2 mm, and 3 mm. The used liquids are distilled water and solution of salt (0.9 %). The output voltage and current signals at breakdown in distilled water are shown to be bigger than those in saline solution. The breakdown voltage and current characteristics in liquids will be discussed in accordance with A-K gap distances. It is also found that the electron temperatures and plasma densities in liquids are decreased in conformity with A-K gap.