License Plate Recognition System Using Artificial Neural Networks

İbrahim Türkyılmaz,Kirami Kaçan 한국전자통신연구원 2017 ETRI Journal Vol.39 No.2

A high performance license plate recognition system (LPRS) is proposed in this work. The proposed LPRS is composed of the following three main stages: (i) plate region determination, (ii) character segmentation, and (iii) character recognition. During the plate region determination stage, the image is enhanced by image processing algorithms to increase system performance. The rectangular license plate region is obtained using edge-based image processing methods on the binarized image. With the help of skew correction, the plate region is prepared for the character segmentation stage. Characters are separated from each other using vertical projections on the plate region. Segmented characters are prepared for the character recognition stage by a thinning process. At the character recognition stage, a three-layer feedforward artificial neural network using a backpropagation learning algorithm is constructed and the characters are determined.

Does the Use of Rocuronium-Sugammadex Instead of Succinylcholine in Electroconvulsive Therapy Affect Seizure Duration?

Oflezer Ceyhan,Atay Özge,Kaşdoğan Zümrüt Ela,Özakay Gülay,İpekçioğlu Derya,Bahadır Hakan 대한신경정신의학회 2022 PSYCHIATRY INVESTIGATION Vol.19 No.10

Objective We compared retrospectively the seizure variables of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) patients after administration of rocuronium-sugammadex or succinylcholine as a muscle relaxant with propofol anesthesia.Methods The sample comprised 134 ECT patients. The mean age was 33.6±10.48 years. Anesthesia induction was provided with propofol one mg kg-intravenously (IV) followed by succinylcholine 0.5 mg kg^-1 IV (n=68) (Group S) or rocuronium 0.3 mg kg^-1 IV (n=66) (Group R). For patients who were given rocuronium, reversal of the residual neuromuscular block was accomplished with sugammadex (1.5 mg kg^-1 IV). First session seizure variables were compared between the two groups. We also presented the clinical outcome with Clinical Global Impression-Improvement (CGI-I) and overall adverse effects.Results EEG seizure durations in Group R (55.09±36.11 s) and Group S (47.00±26.33 s) were comparable and were not significantly different (p=0.432). The clinical efficacy of ECT measured by CGI-I in both groups was comparable (p=0.075). There were no major complications or death during or after ECT.Conclusion The results of this study show that the use of rocuronium-sugammadex as a neuromuscular blocker instead of succinylcholine during ECT with propofol anesthesia produces similar results in terms of seizure variables and clinical outcomes.

Perception of Child Abuse and Child Disciplinary Practice among Adults Abused as Children

Ka Young Moon,So Young Irene Lee,A Reum Lee,Ka Yeong An,Kyung Soo Jung,Kyoung-Il Paek,Hyun Ah Kang,Ji Young Kang,Shun Ah Chung 대한소아청소년정신의학회 2019 소아청소년정신의학 Vol.30 No.2

Objectives: The aim of this study was to compare differences in perception and knowledge of child abuse and child disciplinary practices according to the history of child abuse victimization. Methods: A questionnaire survey on child abuse was conducted with 491 adults raising children. We compared the perception and knowledge of child abuse and child disciplinary practices between two groups of adults with and without a history of childhood abuse victimization. Results: The group with a history of childhood abuse had lower levels of knowledge of child abuse (F=6.990, p<0.01) and engaged in more negative disciplinary practices (F=5.974, p<0.05) than those without. However, no differences in the perception of child abuse were observed between the two groups. Conclusion: The results suggest that adults with a history of childhood abuse have lower levels of knowledge of child abuse and use more negative disciplinary practices in raising their children. This highlights the need to administer not only educational but also more direct hands-on interventions to vulnerable parents in order to foster healthy parenting and disciplinary practices.

Crystal structure of an anti-CRISPR protein, AcrIIA1

Ka, Donghyun,An, So Young,Suh, Jeong-Yong,Bae, Euiyoung Oxford University Press 2018 Nucleic acids research Vol.46 No.d1

<P><B>Abstract</B></P><P>Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPRs) and CRISPR-associated (Cas) proteins provide bacteria with RNA-based adaptive immunity against phage infection. To counteract this defense mechanism, phages evolved anti-CRISPR (Acr) proteins that inactivate the CRISPR-Cas systems. AcrIIA1, encoded by <I>Listeria monocytogenes</I> prophages, is the most prevalent among the Acr proteins targeting type II-A CRISPR-Cas systems and has been used as a marker to identify other Acr proteins. Here, we report the crystal structure of AcrIIA1 and its RNA-binding affinity. AcrIIA1 forms a dimer with a novel two helical-domain architecture. The N-terminal domain of AcrIIA1 exhibits a helix-turn-helix motif similar to transcriptional factors. When overexpressed in <I>Escherichia coli</I>, AcrIIA1 associates with RNAs, suggesting that AcrIIA1 functions via nucleic acid recognition. Taken together, the unique structural and functional features of AcrIIA1 suggest its distinct mode of Acr activity, expanding the diversity of the inhibitory mechanisms employed by Acr proteins.</P>

An in vitro Study on the Biocompatibility of Titanium Implants Made by Selective Laser Melting

Aranka Ilea,Daniela Timuș,Nausica Bianca Petrescu,Olga Sorițău,Bianca Adina Boșca,Voicu Mager,Lucian Barbu-Tudoran,Anida Maria Băbțan,Radu Septimiu Câmpian,Réka Barabás 한국생물공학회 2019 Biotechnology and Bioprocess Engineering Vol.24 No.5

Customized medical implants obtained by selective laser melting have an important applicability due the accurate architecture which promotes the osteointegration, osteoconduction, and osteoinduction. This study assessed the in vitro effect of titanium scaffolds, both pure and covered with a layer of hydroxyapatite, on mesenchymal stem cells harvested from various oral tissues. Eight titanium implants were manufactured by selective laser melting, obtaining a porosity of 63.4% and a pore size of 600 μm. Four matrices were covered with nano-hydroxyapatite. Four lines of mesenchymal stem cells isolated from the apical papilla, the dental pulp, the inter-radicular bone, and the tuberosity bone were seeded on the implants. The cells’ proliferation, viability, and differentiation into the osteoblastic lineage were assessed after 18 days, using light microscopy and fluorescence. Our results indicated that the titanium matrices did not exert cytotoxic effect. The cells seeded on titanium matrices conditioned with nanohydroxyapatite had a slightly higher proliferation rate. The stem cells isolated from the inter-radicular bone had the most intense proliferation and differentiation towards the osteoblastic lineage showing a nodular architecture. In conclusion, the oral mesenchymal stem cells have the potential to promote and improve bone regeneration when associated with the titanium scaffolds manufactured by selective laser melting, either non-coated or coated with hydroxyapatite. These findings open new perspectives for the bone reconstruction in the oral and maxillofacial surgery field.

17 대국회의원선거의 민주노동당투표자에 대한 분석

안순철(Soon Cheol An),가상준(Sangjoon Ka) 한국정당학회 2006 한국정당학회보 Vol.5 No.2

본 연구는 원내 첫 진출에 성공한 진보정당인 민주노동당에 투표한 유권자의 정치, 경제, 사회적 측면에서의 특징을 분석하는 것을 목적으로 하고 있다. 이를 위해 민주노동당에 투표한 유권자의 투표결정 요인에 대한 분석을 시도하는 한편, 이들 유권자의 투표 성향이 앞으로 어떠한 정치적 결과로 이어질 것인가에 대하여 고찰하였다. 분석 결과를 요약하면, 우선 민주노동당에 대한 지지 정도는 민주노동당에 대한 정치적 선호도와 유권자의 진보 성향 정도에 따라 크게 좌우되고 있는 것으로 나타났다. 또한 민주당과 열린우리당에 대한 거부감의 상이성이 민주노동당에 대한 지지의 차이로 나타남을 알 수 있었다. 아울러노동단체 가입여부가 민주노동당 지지의 중요 요인으로 작용하였다는 점이 경험적으로 나타났다. 민주노동당이 18대 총선에서 성공적인 결과를 얻기 위해서는 민주노동당에 대한 강한 정당일체감을 느끼도록 유권자를 유인할 필요성이 강하게 대두되었다. 이를 위해 민주노동당은 당의 정체성과 연계된 이념적 진보세력을 위한 정책개발에 역점을 두는 동시에 여성 유권자들로부터의 지지를 도출하기 위한 정책적노력을 기울여야 할 것이다. 특히 소득수준이 낮은 유권자의 민주노동당에 대한 지지가 약하다는 현실을 감안할 때 이를 극복하기 위한 원내 활동이 중점적으로 이루어질 전망이다. This study aims at analyzing political, socio-economic characteristics of the electorate who supports for the Democratic Labor Party which made inroad into the National Assembly for the first time in the 17th National Assembly Election. Likewise the study examines to see whether the Democratic Labor Party will keep political support continuously as it did in the 17th Election. Statistical results show that the electorate who supports for the Democratic Labor Party has strong party-identification with the Democratic Labor Party and is strongly liberal compared with the other electorate. Additionally, the results show that most of them are in disfavor with the Democratic Party and the Uri Party. Also, the study finds that as the voters are a member of a labor union, the likelihood that they support the Democratic Labor Party increases. This implies that in order for the Democratic Labor Party to have a successful result in the 18th National Assembly, the party should attract political support from the female electorate and the poor electorate.

Omnidirectional Lossy Power 결합기/분배기 해석 및 설계

안가람(Ka-Ram An),강현일(Hyun-Il Kang),박종애(Jong-Ae Park),박준석(Jun-Seok Park),임재봉(Jae-Bong Lim),조홍구(Hong-Goo Cho) 대한전기학회 2004 대한전기학회 학술대회 논문집 Vol.2004 No.7

An mRNA-specific tRNA _i carrier eIF2A plays a pivotal role in cell proliferation under stress conditions: stress-resistant translation of c-Src mRNA is mediated by eIF2A

Kwon, Oh Sung,An, Sihyeon,Kim, Eunah,Yu, Jinbae,Hong, Ka Young,Lee, Jae Seung,Jang, Sung Key Oxford University Press 2017 Nucleic acids research Vol.45 No.1

<P>c-Src, a non-receptor protein tyrosine kinase, activates NF-κB and STAT3, which in turn triggers the transcription of anti-apoptosis- and cell cycle-related genes. c-Src protein regulates cell proliferation, cell motility and programmed cell death. And the elevated level of activated c-Src protein is related with solid tumor generation. Translation of c-Src mRNA is directed by an IRES element which mediates persistent translation under stress conditions when translation of most mRNAs is inhibited by a phosphorylation of the alpha subunit of eIF2 carrying the initiator tRNA (tRNA<SUB>i</SUB>) to 40S ribosomal subunit under normal conditions. The molecular basis of the stress-resistant translation of c-Src mRNA remained to be elucidated. Here, we report that eIF2A, an alternative tRNA<SUB>i</SUB> carrier, is responsible for the stress-resistant translation of c-Src mRNA. eIF2A facilitates tRNA<SUB>i</SUB> loading onto the 40S ribosomal subunit in a c-Src mRNA-dependent manner. And a direct interaction between eIF2A and a stem-loop structure (SL I) in the c-Src IRES is required for the c-Src IRES-dependent translation under stress conditions but not under normal conditions. Finally, we showed that the eIF2A-dependent translation of c-Src mRNA plays a pivotal role in cell proliferation under stress conditions.</P>

Factors Affecting the Occupational View of Optometrist

Youngju An,Ka-Ul Choi,Se-Jin Kim,Myoung-hee Lee 대한시과학회 2021 대한시과학회지 Vol.23 No.2

목적 : 안경광학과 대학생을 대상으로 일반적 특성과 전공만족도, 안경사 직업관을 조사하여 안경사 직업관에 영향을 미치는 요인을 파악하고자 하였다. 방법 : 충남지역 안경광학과 대학생 196명을 대상으로 일반적 특성(11)과 전문적 자아 개념(5), 사회적 인식 (5), 안경사의 전문성(5)의 총 26개 문항을 온라인 설문 조사하였다. 분석방법은 SPSS 18.0 통계프로그램을 사용하였으며 통계적으로 유의수준은 p<0.050 기준으로 하였다. 결과 : 전문적 자아 개념에는 전공 만족도(β =0.36, p<0.001)와 연령(β =-0.20, p=0.002)이 유의한 영향을 미치는 것으로 나타났다. 사회적 인식에는 전공 만족도(β =0.33, p<0.001)와 연령(β =-0.31, p<0.001)이 유의 한 영향을 미치는 것으로 나타났고, 안경사의 전문성에는 전공 만족도(β =0.33, p<0.001)가 유의한 영향을 미치는 것으로 나타났다. 결론 : 안경광학과 학생들이 생각하는 안경사의 전문적 자아개념, 사회적인식, 전문성에 대한 전공만족도와의 상관관계가 유의하였다. 이는 재학생들의 전공 만족도가 높을수록 직업적 인식이 높다는 것을 나타내는 연구결과로 안경광학과 학생들의 진로 지도를 위한 기초자료로 활용 되어질 수 있을 것으로 사료된다. Purpose : The purpose of this study was to investigate the factors affecting the occupational view of the optometrist by surveying general characteristics, major satisfaction, and occupational view of optometrist with optometry students. Methods : An online survey of 26 questions including general characteristics (11), professional self-concept (5), social perceptions (5), and optometrist’s professionalism (5) was conducted with 196 optometry students in Chungcheongnam-do. For the method of analysis, SPSS 18.0 statistical program was applied, and the statistical significance level was based on p<0.050. Results : It was found that major subject satisfaction (β=0.36, p<0.001) and age (β=-0.20, p=0.002) showed a significant effect on the professional self-concept. It was also found that major subject satisfaction (β=0.33, p<0.001) and age (β=-0.31, p<0.001) showed a significant effect on social perception, and major subject satisfaction (β=0.33, p<0.001) was significant for optometrist's professionalism. Conclusion : There was a significant correlation between the professional self-concept of the optometry students, social perception, and the satisfaction of the major with the optometrist’s expertise. This is a research result that shows that the higher the degree of satisfaction with the majors in the current students is, the higher the occupational awareness is. It would consider that it can be used as basic data for career guidance of the optometry students.

The bent conformation of poly(A)-binding protein induced by RNA-binding is required for its translational activation function

Hong, Ka Young,Lee, Seung Hwan,Gu, Sohyun,Kim, Eunah,An, Sihyeon,Kwon, Junyoung,Lee, Jong-Bong,Jang, Sung Key TaylorFrancis 2017 RNA BIOLOGY Vol.14 No.3

<P><B>ABSTRACT</B></P><P>A recent study revealed that poly(A)-binding protein (PABP) bound to poly(A) RNA exhibits a sharply bent configuration at the linker region between RNA-recognition motif 2 (RRM2) and RRM3, whereas free PABP exhibits a highly flexible linear configuration. However, the physiological role of the bent structure of mRNA-bound PABP remains unknown. We investigated a role of the bent structure of PABP by constructing a PABP variant that fails to form the poly(A)-dependent bent structure but maintains its poly(A)-binding activity. We found that the bent structure of PABP/poly(A) complex is required for PABP's efficient interaction with eIF4G and eIF4G/eIF4E complex. Moreover, the mutant PABP had compromised translation activation function and failed to augment the formation of 80S translation initiation complex in an <I>in vitro</I> translation system. These results suggest that the bent conformation of PABP, which is induced by the interaction with 3′ poly(A) tail, mediates poly(A)-dependent translation by facilitating the interaction with eIF4G and the eIF4G/eIF4E complex. The preferential binding of the eIF4G/eIF4E complex to the bent PABP/poly(A) complex seems to be a mechanism discriminating the mRNA-bound PABPs participating in translation from the idling mRNA-unbound PABPs.</P>