The Ratio of Second and Fourth Digit Length: A Biomarker for Methamphetamine Dependence?

YoungHo Kim(YoungHo Kim),Sung-Doo Won(Sung-Doo Won),Hyejin Kwon(Hyejin Kwon),Changwoo Han(Changwoo Han) 대한정신약물학회 2022 CLINICAL PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY AND NEUROSCIENCE Vol.20 No.4

Objective: The ratio of 2nd and 4th digit length (2D:4D) is considered to be a sexually dimorphic trait. Low 2D:4D is implicated in alcohol dependence and heroin dependence and correlated with psychological traits such as aggression, physical aggression, and sensation. The purpose of this study is to compare the 2D:4D between methamphetamine (METH) dependence and controls and the 2D:4D ratio that is a potential biomarker for METH dependence. Methods: In this study, 40 patients diagnosed with METH dependence in Eulji University Gangnam Eulji Hospital and 50 healthy volunteers were all employees in the same hospital. Images of participants’ hands were created using a scanning device. The images contained both the right and left hands; computer software was used to measure the 2D:4D ratio for both hands. We compared the ratios, analyzed by t test, between the METH dependence group and the control group. Results: The mean 2D:4D values were 0.941 (right hand) and 0.943 (left hand) for the patients with METH dependence; in contrast, they were 0.961 (right hand) and 0.961 (left hand) for the control group. These values were significantly smaller than the control in patients’ right hands (p = 0.003) and left hands (p = 0.012). Conclusion: Patients with METH dependence had smaller 2D:4D ratios than those in the control group, which is similar to the results from the previous substance use disorder studies. Thus, elevated prenatal testosterone levels during the gonadal period could be related to future METH problems. Furthermore, the 2D:4D ratio is a potential marker for the prediction of METH dependence.

Molecular networks underlying ovarian aging for clinical applications

YoungHo Roh,SookRyung Kim,EunJung Choi,YoungJoo Kim,HyangGi Park,PureunNarae Kang,DaJung Chung,NaYoung Kim,MinJae Kim,AeRa Han,KwangRae Kim,Chan Park,YongPil Cheon,YoungJin Lee 한국발생생물학회 2017 한국발생생물학회 학술발표대회 Vol.2017 No.8

Due to modern trends with postponing child-bearing and getting worse living environment in women, an ovarian aging increased pregnancy failure and other complications with menopause or premature ovarian failure. Although several theories have been suggested such as mitochondrial malfunction, DNA damage/repair/methylation, caloric restriction, studies regarding ovarian aging-related molecular mechanisms for development of therapeutic methods are insufficient so far. Our objective is to determine molecular pathways of ovarian aging that result in pregnancy failure and other complications in women health to develop treatment strategies. This study is consisted of two parts: in Phase I stage, we analyzed distinct gene expression profile between young and aged mouse ovaries, and in Phase II stage several preferentially expressed genes in both ovaries were selected and analyzed their physiological functions and involved molecular networks related to ovarian aging for development of diagnostic markers and therapeutic methods. Ovaries from 10 week and 11 month-old FVB/NJ female mice with synchronized estrus cycle were collected for this study. A half of each ovary was used for RNA preparation and the other half for histological analysis. Using the Illumina HiSeq 2000 System, preferentially expressed genes were identified. Functional annotation database-based gene-set enrichment analyses and Pathway Studio® were employed to evaluate aging-related molecular networks. These findings were confirmed through qRT-PCR and immunohistochemistry. To validate RNA-Seq data, we examined expression patterns of marker genes (Amh, Bmp15 and Nobox) that were wellknown to be decreased in ovarian aging process. In young or aged ovary, preferentially expressed 876 genes were identified and extracellular matrix (ECM; p<0.001) and chromatin/nucleosome-related (p<0.001) protein-coded genes have the majority in these genes by GOTERM analysis. Amongthem, we selected several candidate genes and confirmed their expression profiles by qRT-PCR and immunohistochemistry followed by molecular network analysis. Regarding molecular interactions in these genes, PathwayStudio® was employed to predict aging-involved molecular networks in mouse ovary. Here we report a couple of candidate molecular networks and medicines (chemicals) for targeting these preferentially expressed genes/proteins. Further analyses are scheduled to produce transgenic animal models and with human ovarian tissues/cell lines.

Cantilever-type electrode array-based high-throughput microparticle sorting platform driven by gravitation and negative dielectrophoretic force

Kim, Youngho,Lee, Junghun,Kim, Younggeun,Shin, Sang-Mo,Kim, Byungkyu IOP 2011 JOURNAL OF MICROMECHANICS AND MICROENGINEERING - Vol.21 No.1

<P>In this paper, we describe a cantilever-type electrode (CE) array-based high-throughput sorting platform, which is a tool used to separate microparticles using gravitation and negative dielectrophoretic (n-DEP) force. This platform consists of meso-size channels and a CE array, which is designed to separate a large number of target particles by differences in their dielectric material properties (DMP) and the weight of the particles. We employ a two-step separation process, with sedimentation as the first step and n-DEP as the second step. In order to differentiate the weight and the DMP of each particle, we employ the sedimentation phenomena in a vertical channel and the CE-based n-DEP in an inclined channel. By using three kinds of polystyrene beads with diameters of 10, 25 and 50 µm, the optimal population (10<SUP>7</SUP> beads ml<SUP>−1</SUP>) of particles and the appropriate length (25 mm) of the vertical channel for high performance were determined experimentally. Conclusively, by combining sedimentation and n-DEP schemes, we achieve 74.5, 94.7 and 100% separation efficiency for sorting microparticles with a diameter of 10, 25 and 50 µm, respectively.</P>

Design and evaluation of an experimental system for monitoring the mechanical response of piezoelectric energy harvesters

Kim, Changho,Ko, Youngsu,Kim, Taemin,Yoo, Chan-Sei,Choi, BeomJin,Han, Seung Ho,Jang, YongHo,Kim, Youngho,Kim, Namsu Techno-Press 2018 Smart Structures and Systems, An International Jou Vol.22 No.2

Increasing interest in prognostics and health management has heightened the need for wireless sensor networks (WSN) with efficient power sources. Piezoelectric energy harvesters using Pb(Zr,Ti)O3 (PZT) are one of the candidate power sources for WSNs as they efficiently convert mechanical vibration energy into electrical energy. These types of devices are resonated at a specific frequency, which has a significant impact on the amount of energy harvested, by external vibration. Hence, precise prediction of mechanical deformation including modal analysis of piezoelectric devices is crucial for estimating the energy generated under specific conditions. In this study, an experimental vibrational system capable of controlling a wide range of frequencies and accelerations was designed to generate mechanical vibration for piezoelectric energy harvesters. In conjunction with MATLAB, the system automatically finds the resonance frequency of harvesters. A small accelerometer and non-contact laser displacement sensor are employed to investigate the mechanical deformation of harvesters. Mechanical deformation under various frequencies and accelerations were investigated and analyzed based on data from two types of sensors. The results verify that the proposed system can be employed to carry out vibration experiments for piezoelectric harvesters and measurement of their mechanical deformation.

Differential expression of the LOX family genes in human colorectal adenocarcinomas

Kim, Youngho,Roh, Seonae,Park, Jung-Young,Kim, Yangsik,Cho, Dong Hyung,Kim, Jin Cheon Spandidos Publications 2009 ONCOLOGY REPORTS Vol.22 No.4

<P>Lysyl oxidase (LOX) is an amine oxidase that catalyzes the cross-linking of collage or elastin in the extracellular matrix, regulating the tensile strength and structural integrity of connective tissues. Recently, four paralogues (LOXL, LOXL2, LOXL3 and LOXL4) of LOX have been identified in humans, each containing the functional domains required for the amine oxidase activity toward collagen and elastin. Paradoxical roles of the LOX family members have been reported in various neoplastic tissues as tumor suppressors or promoters depending on tumor status and type. To address expression of the LOX family genes in colorectal adenocarcinomas, we performed real-time PCR analysis with matched tumor/normal tissue specimens from 104 patients. The expression of the LOX family genes was not statistically associated with tumor location, stage, growth type, or differentiation status. However, upregulation of LOX, LOXL2 and LOXL4 was significantly correlated with absence of lymphovascular invasion (P=0.012, 0.014 and 0.005, respectively), suggesting that the oxygen tension in or around the tumors may be an important regulator for the differential expression of LOX, LOXL2 and LOXL4 in colorectal cancer. Additionally, expression of LOX, but not the other LOX family genes, was significantly upregulated in patients with a diffuse cytoplasmic expression pattern of CEA, indicating that LOX upregulation may be associated with increased invasiveness and metastatic potential in colorectal cancer.</P>

관로 내 수압을 고려한 공동 형상에 관한 실험적 연구

김영호(Youngho Kim),한중근(Junggeun Han),김주봉(Joobong Kim),김도원(Dowon Kim),이성철(Sungchul Lee) 한국지반신소재학회 2017 한국토목섬유학회 학술발표회 Vol.2017 No.4

상수관로 파손으로 인한 지반함몰 발생메카니즘에 관한 실험적 연구

김영호(Youngho Kim),김주봉(Joo-Bong Kim),김도원(Dowon Kim),한중근(Jung-Geun Han) 한국지반신소재학회 2017 한국지반신소재학회 논문집 Vol.16 No.2

상하수도관의 파손에 따라 발생하는 지반함몰은 최근 많은 도시에서 증가하고 있다. 이는 도시의 노후화에 따른 파이프라인의 노후화에 기인한다. 하수도의 파손에 따른 지반함몰특성은 최근 많은 연구들을 통해 밝혀지고 있지만, 상수도에 의한 지반함몰 특성 연구는 미진한 상태라 할 수 있다. 본 연구에서는 상수도관의 파손에 따른 매설관 상부지반의 지반함몰 발생메카니즘을 알아보기 위해 지반특성과 상수도관에서의 압력 및 속도수두에 따른 지반붕괴특성을 실내모형시험을 통해 고찰하였다. 상수도관의 매설상태를 고려하여 상대밀도와 세립토의 함유량에 따라 비교분석하였다. 상대밀도와 침투압이 작은 경우에는 소규모지 반함몰이 발생할 수 있고, 반대인 경우에는 지중공동이 크게 발생하면서 일정시간이 지난 후 지표면으로 확대되어 발생하는 것을 알 수 있었다. 또한, 지중 깊은 곳에서 침투압에 의한 토사유출이 발생한 이후 형성된 지반공동은 장시간동안 지표면 부근에서 일정한 강도를 유지하고, 지반공동이 장기간 유지될 수 있음을 알 수 있었다. Ground subsidence caused by damaged water pipe and sewer is recently increasing due to the aging of city and pipeline in many city. Although many recent studies have verified characteristics of ground subsidence due to wastewater pipe breakdown, research about characteristics of ground subsidence due to water pipe is insignificant. subsidence due to water pipe is insignificant. This study aims to identify the ground failure mechanism caused by water and sewer pipe breakdown. Accordingly, we conducted an indoor model experiment to verify characteristics of ground subsidence considering characteristics of ground and ground failure. The water pipe pressure and velocity head was considered to find out ground subsidence mechanism. Also comparative analysis is conducted by analyzing relative density and fine-grain content considering embedded condition of water pipe. When the relative density and seepage pressure is low, small scale ground subsidence can occur, but when the conditions are opposite, ground subsidence occur in large scale and expands to ground level over time. Furthermore, it is acknowledgeable that ground cavity that is formed after soil run off due to seepage in deep earth, maintains steady strength and stays on the ground level for long period.

쿠웨이트의 메가 프로젝트 AL-ZOUR LNG 수입항 건설공사

김영호(Youngho Kim),정형섭(Hyungsub Jung),박준호(Junho Park),김기영(Keeyoung Kim),김창우(Changwoo Kim) 대한토목학회 2019 대한토목학회지 Vol.67 No.1

코일 스프링 장착각이 스프링의 내구성능에 미치는 영향에 관한 연구

김영호(Youngho Kim),김준엽(Juneyeop Kim),김준(June Kim) 한국자동차공학회 2012 한국자동차공학회 학술대회 및 전시회 Vol.2012 No.11

The reliability of coil spring durability performance is the one of the most important things related with vehicle safety. Recently, the problems related to spring have been occurred sometimes during full vehicle durability test, not component test. However it is difficult to find the improving solutions because of lack of known about the cause and mechanism exactly. Without knowing about them, the changing materials or increasing diameter of spring might become only option choice because they increase cost and time in the development vehicle procedure So the understanding of the cause and mechanism of spring failure is needed. In this paper several straingages were installed on the rear spring to investigate the deformed shape and stress distribution of spring. The measurements on deformed shape and stress were performed in both state of component and full vehicle test with variable conditions of installing spring angle. Through the analysis of the measurement data the optimum installing angle of spring was determined and then it was verified in full vehicle durability test. In a result it was confirmed that the regulation of spring installing angle was effective to improve the durability performance of spring.

원격 미세진동 검출에 의한 소리 재구성

김영호(Youngho Kim),공대경(Daekyeong Kong),김영환(Younghwan Kim),김의간(Ueikan Kim),조경래(Gyeongrae Cho),도덕희(Deoghee Doh) 한국가시화정보학회 2016 한국가시화정보학회 학술발표대회 논문집 Vol.2016 No.4